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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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„9 Copyright No. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



1861 TO 1865. 

Personal Recollections and Experiences in the 
Confederate Army. 

BY AN "OLD JOHNNIE." 




Thk Little Confederate. 




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L.T.DICKINSON of CHATTANOOGA. 

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Copyright, 1897, 
By The Robert Clarke Company. 



DEDICATION. 



TO THE MEMORY 

OF THE 

Gallant Spirits who fell in Defense of the 
LOST CAUSE, 

TO 

Their Surviving Comrades, 

AND TO 

Their Wives and Daughters, 

This t'oiume of reminiscences is affectionately inscribed by 

The Author. 



Fair Freedom is sadl^' and silently weeping 

O'er Martyrs who dared for her honor to die, 
Rut myriads of Angels are sacredly keeping 

UnsliJinbering ward o'er the spot where they lie. 
Rest, Comrades! the tumult of battle shall never 

Break in on your dreams, nor disturb your repose; 
Your valor and names shall be cherished, and even 
In high honor held, 'till tiines' records close. 

— Si>n»ions. 

(V) 



PREFACE. 

The papers comprising this volume were begun without 
any plan or purpose of writing a book or of publishing them 
in pamphlet or any other form. They were written as op- 
portunity permitted, in the intervals that could be spared from 
the duties of active business, and without any attempt at 
elaboration. I had entered the Confederate army when a 
mere lad, barely sixteen years of age ; was in the first battle 
of the war and in very nearly the last, and when the " Bonnie 
Blue Flag " was furled after the surrender of Generals Lee 
and Johnston, I gave my parole, along with my comrades at 
Gainsville, Alabama, where General Dick Taylor surrendered 
the department in which I was then serving. I had served 
through the entire war, from the beginning to the end, the first 
half in Virginia and Maryland, and the last in Mississippi, 
Tennessee and Alabama. Thirty years later I was impelled, 
not only by the suggestions of friends, but by my own feel- 
ings and inclinations, to commence writing my reminiscences 
of the war and my personal experiences during the more than 
four years of service, more as a record for iny descendants 
and friends to read in after years, than with any view of 
coming before the public in the role of author. I knew then, 

(vii) 



via PRE FA CE. 

as I now know, that sketches, papers, reminiscences and 
volumes, almost ''ad infinitum" had been written and pub- 
lished, until the reading people had become wearied, if not 
surfeited with that class of literature. With only my original 
purpose in view, therefore, I continued to write as time and 
opportunity permitted, and now and then in order to com- 
pare recollections, submitted a paper or two to some comrade 
or friend in whose judgment I had confidence and upon 
whose memories I believed I could rely. Those to whom 
they were submitted were few, for I had no desire to make a 
public display of my simple narrative of the war, nor to give 
it any publicity whatever; yet, those friends and comrades 
who read the MSS. advised me with one accord, and some 
even urged me to continue and complete the sketches, and 
when completed, give them to the public in a volume, assur- 
ing me that they would be interesting to the public generally 
and specially so to all survivors of the lost cause and the 
descendants of those who had crossed over the river; they 
believed that the book would be valued by the living and 
the descendants of the dead who had served under Griffith, 
Barksdale, Forrest and Chalmers, or any where near them ; 
and they were so flattering in their estimate, as to declare 
that it would be a valuable and reliable contribution to the 
history of the period extending from 1861 to 1865, although 
such a thought had never entered my mind. They believed, 
too, that people of the Northern States, from whose minds 



PRE FA CE. ix 

and hearts all bitterness had been obliterated, would read 
with interest truthful sketches from a Southern standpoint, 
of scenes and battles in which many of them had participated 
and of which they had heard and read. 

Yielding to these opinions and representations of comrades 
and friends, I have endeavored to give my observations and 
experiences in plain and simple language, and to avoid any 
and every expression that might wound or offend, and in no 
instance to violate the laws of truth. 

Reader 1 the result is before you ; be your own judge of 
the merits of my work of love. James Dinkins. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



The Little Confederate, ...... Frontispiece 

" Bill v" Blake, 37 

A Sickening Sight on the Battlefield of White Oak Swamp, 51 

Suddenly a Shell Exploded in their Midst, 61 

Traffic on the Rappahannock, ....... 66 

The Little Confederate and his Niggers, . . . . .80 

General James R. Chalmers, ....... 89 

A Texan makes use of his Lasso, .,.,.. 123 

Lieutenant-General Nathan Bedford Forrest, .... 125 

Captain George Dashiell (of General Forrest's StafT), . . 127 
Accused of Wearing a Corset, . . . . . . -157 

Lieutenant Bleecker, September, 1864, ..... 243 

Major-General Edward Carv Walthall, ..... 253 

Colonel L. T. Dickinson, . . ... . . . . 2S0 

The Old Johnnie, 2S1 

We Stand ready to Defend it, ...... . 283 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

The Little Confederate enters a Military School — War is De- 
clared — Hostilities Begin, and the First Battle is Fought. ... 17 

CHAPTER II. 

First Battle of the War Fought — Young Cadets Prove themselves 

Worthy their Lineage 24 

CHAPTER III. 
The Retreat from the Peninsula — The Battle of Williamsburg. ... 32 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Army Arrives at the Chickahominy River, and Begins to 
Fortify — The Battle of Seven Pines — Uncle Freeman and a 
Bomb-shell — Billy Blake and a Paper Collar 37 

CHAPTER V. 

The Seven Day's Battle of Richmond— The Battle of Savage Sta- 
tion — The Death of General Griffith — Colonel William Barks- 
dale assumes Command of the Brigade — The Little Con- 
federate tries to get a Pair of Shoes 42 

(xi) 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER VI. 



The Battles of White Oak Swamp and Malvern Hill — President 

Davis, General Lee and others Meet 47 



CHAPTER Vn. 

McLaws' Division Left at Richmond — General Lee Moves 
toward Washington — A sickening sight on the Battle Field 
of White Oak Swamp — McLaws Joins General Lee at Manas- 
sas — The Second Battle of Manasas — The Army Crosses the 
Potomac — The Surrender of Harper's Ferry 51 

CHAPTER VHL 

The Army Recrosses the Potomac — The Battle of Sharpsburg — 

General Sims Wounded — D. H. Hill and his Nerve 56 

CHAPTER IX. 

The Army Goes into Camp at Winchester — Small-pox Breaks 
Out — The March to Fredericksburg — The Men's Clothes 
Freeze on them — The Battle of Fredericksburg — The Enemy 
Capture Barksdale's Works, but are Driven Back — The 
Washington Artillery cheer Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade — 
Billy Blake and a Little Dog Frighten the People in 
Church 64 

CHAPTER X. 

The Men of both Armies become very Friendly — The Little Con- 
federate is appointed First Lieutenant in the C. S. Army, and 
presents himself to the Secretary of War 75 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XI. 



The Little Confederate Leaves the Army of Nortliern Virginia, 
and Spends a Few Weeks at Home 



PART II. 

CHAPTER XH. 

Lieutenant Bleecker Reports to General James R. Chalmers for 

Duty, and is Assigned to the Command of an Artillery Section. 89 

CHAPTER XHL 

General Chalmers organizes his Forces —The Fight at Coldvvater 
River — Gallant Conduct of Colonel McCulloch — Captain Car- 
roll gives McCulloch a Dining — Gallant Conduct of Major 
Grant Wilson of the Federal Army 89 

CHAPTER XIV. 

The Men Taught how to Jerk Beef — Colonel Young and " the 
Colt" — Gallant Conduct of Major Chalmers — Narrow Escape 
of General Sherman 106 

CHAPTER XV. 

Fight at Moscow, Tennessee — Bright Pays His Respects to Car- 
roll — A Yankee Cavalryman Kills " Uncle Steve" — A Te.xan 
Lassoes a Woman 116 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Forrest Cavalry Organized at Como, Miss. — Seventeen Men Or- 



xiv CONTENTS. 

dered to be Shot at Oxford — The Battle of Okolona — Colonel 
Jeffrey Forrest Killed — A Touching Scene — The Enemy Burn 
Private Property 128 

CHAPTER XVII. 

How the Boys Sang the Praise of the Starkville Girls — Colonel 
Young and Lieutenant Taylor Play a Game of Cards — The 
Battle of Fort Pillow — The Conduct of the Negroes — How 
Forrest Looked 138 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

A Season of Rest in the Rich Mississippi Prairies — The Battle of 
Brice's Cross Roads — A Jackson Girl Accuses Bleecker of 
Wearing a Corset — A Tournament at Egypt — General Sturges 
Promises to Capture Forrest — The Death of Billy Pope 157 

CHAPTER XIX. 

General A. J. Smith Captures and Burns Oxford — Gallant Defense 
Made by General Chalmers — The Enemy Burn the Home of 
Jacob Thompson 166 

CHAPTER XX. 

General Forrest Makes a Dash into Memphis — The Effort to Cap- 
ture Generals Washburn and Hurlbut — Men Ride into the 
Gavoso Hotel on Their Horses — The Plight of Federal Pris- 
oners — How General Forrest Fed Them and His Own Men — 
People Thought Judgment Day was Coming — The Negro 
Soldiers' Idea of Forrest 176 

CHAPTER XXI. 

General Chalmers' Movement against Memphis — The Regiment 
of State Troops — Pleasant Stay at Bolivar, Tennessee — Arrival 



COXTE^^TS. XV 

at Paris Landing — The Undine and Clieeseman Captured — 
First Confederate Flag Seen Afloat — Ten Million Dollars 
Worth of Property Destroyed in One Engagement on the 
Tennessee River — Official Confirmation — Brilliant Work of 
the Artillery 194 

CHAPTER XXII. 

The Effort to Cross the Tennessee River at Perryville — Forrest 
and Chalmers Build Boats, Cross the River at Florence, Ala- 
bama — Wagons and Negroes Captured — A Dutch Officer 
Bested by a Negro — Desperate Charge at Henryville — The 
Great Mistake at Spring Hill — ^The Battle of Franklin — Ar- 
rival at Vicinity of Nashville 221 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

The Battle of Nashville — Very Cold Weather — Hundreds of Men 
Barefooted — General Chalmers' Gallant Fight at Davidson's 
Landing — Colonel Rucker's Personal Fight and Capture — 
General Forrest Saves the Army — Recross the Tennessee 
River 243 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

Reorganization of Forrest's Cavalry at Columbus, Miss. — The Sur- 
render — General Forrest's Farewell Address — Tribute to Gen- 
eral Grant 255 



PART III. 



LAGNIAPPE. 



King Philip — Anecdote of General Forrest — Carpet Baggers — 

Anecdote of Hon. Chas. Ready — The Negroes ^264 



1861 to 1865. 



PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS AND EXPERIENCES 
IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 



CHAPTER L 

The Little Confederate enters a Military School — 
War is Declared — Hostilities Begin, and the First 
Battle is Fought. 

In April, i860, a slender and apparently delicate youth 
was sent by his parents from Canton, Miss., to Charlotte, 
N. C, where he was matriculated in the North Carolina Mil- 
itary Institute. He reached there very near his fifteenth birth- 
day. It was the first time in all his life that he had been more 
than a day's journey from his mother. The trip required sev- 
eral days, which afforded him opportunity for serious thought, 
and by the time he was entered as a cadet he was suffering 
the pangs of home-sickness, which only those who have had 
similar experiences can appreciate, but which can not be de- 
scribed. The second day after reaching the institute, he was 
notified by an officer (a cadet) to report to Major Hill, presi- 
dent of the institute, for examination and assignment to class. 
At eleven o'clock he was told to present himself, and pro- 
ceeded to do so. At the end of a large section room sat a 
gentleman in uniform, with spectacles resting on the extreme 

(17) 



18 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

end of his nose, the only use he seemed to have for them. 
This was Major Hill. His coat was buttoned, but the first 
button-hole extended above the chin, the first button being 
covered by the second button-hole. The boy was told to 
salute the Major as he approached. 

"Well, sir, what is your name?" 

"James Bleecker." 

"Well, what is your middle name?" 

" I have no middle name — ^just James." 

"Well, sir, that settled, tell me what is an equation." 

The boy did not know. Then came the second question : 

" What is a rectangled triangle?" 

He could not answer. 

"Well, then, what is an hypothesis?" 

He could not tell, so the Major told him to be sure to an- 
swer to his name at reveille next morning. 

The boy returned to his room, having to pass several guards 
with bayonets fixed, walking their beats. Every thing tended 
to increase his loneliness and helplessness. He would fly if 
he could, but the guards would not let him pass out of the 
inclosure. The little fellow lay awake nearly all night, fear- 
ing he might not hear that drum-beat in the morning. He 
was down promptly, and fell in line at the foot, because he 
was the smallest and youngest, the roll was called, each boy 
answering to his name. There were several cadets with the 
same name. Bleecker, H. H., Bleecker, H. B., and the 
name Bleecker, J. J., was called but no one answered. The 
boy, like the others, returned to his room for study until the 
drum tapped for breakfast. 

The front windows of the building had heavy iron bars 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM)'. 19 

across them, and there was no exit except by the rear stoops 
and stairways, to reach which all passed through a long arch- 
way. Most of the cadets had passed in ahead of the youth 
and just as he turned in, up went his feet, and down went 
his body. He was a " Newy " and was being initiated; all 
those behind ran over him, stumbling as they passed. It 
was before dawn, and dark, and the little fellow had no idea 
who his enemies were. He reached his room, however, 
badly used up, and spent the hour before breakfast brushing, 
and changing his clothing. The drum summoned all into 
line, and they were marched to the mess hall, where an offi- 
cer presided at each table, and no one was allowed to take a 
seat without command. All sat down together and all arose 
together. After the ranks were broken, and all were quietly 
seated in their rooms, a tap was heard at the boy's door, 
which he opened, and there found a sergeant and two men 
with their guns at a carry. The sergeant said: "I have 
orders to arrest you, sir, and take you to Major Hill." 

"O Lord!" The boy thought his time had come. He 
wondered if his father had any conception of the situation. 
Reaching the Major's presence, that official asked: "Why 
were you not at roll call this morning ? " 

" I was there," answered the boy. 

"Sergeant, did he answer to his name?" 

"No, sir." 

"Well, sir, why did you not answer to your name?" 

" He did not call my name, sir; I was there, I declare I 
was there, but did not hear my name called." 

"Call the roll, sergeant," ordered the Major. The ser- 
geant began. When he reached Bleecker, J.J. — 



20 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC. 

" Stop, sir," said the Major. " Is that your name ?" 

" No, sir, my name is James Bleecker." 

"But," said the Major, "you told me your name was 
' Just James Bleecker.' " 

"Yes, sir." 

" Well, does not J. stand for Just ?" 

He had taken all these pains to play a joke, at which, how- 
ever, he never smiled. 

The little fellow now felt he had landed near the Inquisi- 
tion, so he began to think over all the bad he had done in 
the past, and prepared to make amends in order to meet the 
dread future, which he argued was close at hand. He gave 
up even the faintest hope of ever seeing home again, and but 
for the numberless duties which he was called on to perform, 
might have become insane. He was careful to obey all the 
rules, and learn the lessons. Whenever a cadet passed a 
month without missing a lesson, or without receiving a de- 
merit, he was credited with "minus a demerit," so if he 
should receive one, he would still be without a demerit, and 
thus days, and weeks, and months passed. At the end of six 
months the little fellow had a perfect report, and was minus 
six demerits. 

During all this time he wrote his mother once a week, and 
received a letter from her each week in return. Those sweet 
letters from his dear mother were always full of tender ex- 
pressions of love and encouragement. Mother-like, she built 
air castles for her boy, and looked forward to the time when 
he would return in vacation the next year — thought she 
would be so proud of him, and wondered if other mothers 
loved their boys as she loved hers. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 21 

The little fellow bore the separation from his mother, only 
because he could not do otherwise. He had but one dream 
in the world, and this was the hope of seeing her once more. 

Winter came on with its snow, and from the mountains 
came covered wagons, each drawn by four large fat horses, 
and filled with big red apples, chestnuts and other good 
things. The harness of each horse contained a number of 
little bells, the ringing of which gave notice of the coming of 
all these "goodies." This was all new to the little cadet, 
for he had never seen much snow, and the chestnuts were 
entirely new to him. The jingle of those bells became sweet 
music to the students. When one of the wagons was allowed 
to enter the campus on Saturdays, it was an occasion of the 
greatest happiness. 

The presidential election at this time was exciting the most 
intense interest. Mr. Lincoln was a candidate on the Re- 
publican ticket, while Stephen A. Douglas and Mr. Breckin- 
ridge were Democratic candidates, and Mr. Bell, that of the 
Whig party. So much excitement had taken possession of 
the cadets that very little advancement was made in the 
studies from this on. The little Mississippi cadet, who had 
learned the manual and field movements, found himself mov- 
ing with the current. There was a division of sentiment in 
the school, but most of the cadets favored either Mr. Bell or 
one of the Democratic candidates. The election passed, and 
Mr. Lincoln was declared president. The secession feeling 
was gaining strongly, while the months passed. All kinds of 
stories of insurrections were circulated in the country, one 
having reached Major Hill that the negroes would make an 
attempt to capture the arsenal at Charlotte, over which the 



22 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

cadets kept guard. Major Hill had served in the Mexican 
war, and felt no alarm, though he gave instructions for the 
disposition of each company in the event an attack was made. 
The excitement continued to increase. 

Finally, the spring of 1861 found the country in a state of 
anxiety and uncertainty, the ultimate results of which shocked 
the world. The Southern States called conventions and se- 
ceded from the Federal Union and organized a separate 
government. War was declared, and a call for troops was 
made by each government. Major Hill determined to give 
his services to the Confederate cause and was authorized by 
the governor of North Carolina to raise a regiment. Men 
were instructed to rendezvous at Raleigh. Major Hill an- 
nounced to the cadets that the school would close, and those 
who desired to enlist must obtain consent of their parents. 
The cadets, full of patriotism, and with the inspiration of 
youth, rushed to his banner. The little cadet from Mississippi 
caught the enthusiasm, but could not hope for permission to 
join the army. Every thing was said by the older cadets to 
stimulate him, and he determined to risk all and go too, and, 
just about a year from the time he left home, he presented a 
telegram to Major Hill from his father saying he could enlist. 
The Major was surprised at the consent, but made no further 
remark. (It is needless to state the message was a forgery. 
The little fellow gave one of the boys a gold breast pin to 
write it on a telegraph blank.) One hundred and ninety-two 
of the cadets followed to Raleigh, where they were put to 
work drilling the new soldiers. 

Major Hill was elected Colonel; First Lieutenant C. C. 
Lee, who was commandant at the Institute, Lieutenant-Col- 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM!'. 23 

oner; and Lieutenant Lane, Professor of Languages, Major 
of the First North Carohna regiment of six months' troops. 

After spending two months in camp, drilHng, the regiment 
was ordered to Yorktown, Va., and soon afterward fought 
the battle of Big Bethel. General B. F. Butler commanded 
the Federal forces. Colonel Hill, the Confederate, which con- 
sisted of the First North Carolina, 1,500 men, and the corps 
of Cadets, about 190 strong. This was the first battle of the 
war, though Fort Sumter had been captured some time pre- 
vious. When Colonel Hill advanced on the enemy. Colonel 
Lee remained in the rear with the Cadets deployed, and oc- 
cupying as wide a front as the regiment. The line advanced 
in perfect order until Butler opened fire, when it began to 
give way. Colonel Hill rushed to the front, calling on the 
men to be steady. I am satisfied it was the only time during 
the war he ever became excited. Lieutenant-Colonel Lee 
saw the situation, and called the Cadets to attention. He 
realized that every thing depended on their behavior, and he 
counted largely on the military training he had given them to 
overcome the shock they had received in seeing the regiment 
giving away. The Cadets, like the First North Carolina, 
never had their mettle tested before, but they had the advan- 
tage of discipline and of implicit confidence in their officers. 
Every thing was lost unless the Cadets could check the ad- 
vancing line of the enemy. Would they do so? Who could 
describe the anxiety of Colonel Hill and Lieutenant-Colonel 
Lee in those few moments. The character of the Southern 
soldiers must be made within the next five minutes ! 



24 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 



CHAPTER II. 

First Battle of the War Fought — Young Cadets Prove 
themselves worthy their lineage. 

The feelings which occupy the mind of a soldier on the 
eve of battle have often been described, and doubtless all old 
soldiers have somewhat similar recollections of those trying 
occasions. There are different temperaments, and some 
suffer much more than others, but the rule is almost universal, 
that a soldier is fully aware of the danger, and awaits results 
with a degree of doubt and uncertainty. He knows the 
time is too short to make amends for the past, and he finds 
himself in the hands of the god of battle. These few moments 
are awful. But the mind of a man, and that of a boy on such 
occasions, can hardly be compared. While the Cadets stood 
in skirmish line, separated five paces apart, without the sup- 
port and encouragement which they would receive from 
elbow touch of their friends and companions, and seeing 
the line giving way in their front, the situation was in- 
describably trying. But they stood erect, eyes to the front, 
and all attention. There was not the slightest evidence of 
doubt along that line. Doctor Holmes once said: "The 
training of a boy begins a hundred years before his birth." 
The Cadets were ready to prove the statement. They were 
Southern youths, the representatives of a proud race of people, 
whose ancestors boasted a high order of manhood. These 
young fellows had, from the cradle, been plumed for just 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 25 

such an occasion, and the military training received at Char- 
lotte, under Colonel Hill and Lieutenant-Colonel Lee, com- 
pleted the lesson, and prepared them for the emergency. 
The North Carolina regiment passed through our line, and 
the enemy was advancing. It was a moment of supreme 
suspense to Colonels Hill and Lee. 

It has been said that " a well-bred game cock that has 
been without food until nearly starved, if placed in the pres- 
ence of another game cock and a supply of food, would fight 
before he would eat." This illustrates the character of that 
corps of Cadets. It would be a disappointment if not allowed 
to advance. Colonel Lee gave the order. " Forward, 
Cadets ! guide center ! charge bayonets ! double quick ! " We 
were accustomed to his commands. His voice was musical 
and far reaching. It was like the blast of a bugle. The con- 
fidence, born of education and military discipline, was put to 
the test now, and the result confirmed the highest expecta- 
tions. The boys moved forward in perfect line. There was 
not a waver, nor a bauble. The "minnies" began to whiz, 
but they only added to the determination to drive back But- 
ler's line. The enemy was dazed by the steadiness of the 
Cadets, and no doubt believed that it was the advance line 
of reinforcements. They halted and began to fall back. 
The First North Carolina, seeing the enemy giving way, re- 
formed, and rushed to the support of the Cadets. When 
within two hundred yards of the works, the Cadets opened 
fire and continued to advance. The works were taken, and 
the battle won. 

This was an awful battle, the country thought, but it was a 
mere skirmish compared to what followed a few months later. 



26 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

Only two Cadets were wounded, while eight or ten of the 
enemy were killed and a few wounded. 

The battle over, the Cadets were heroes. They thought 
they were invincible, and longed for another opportunity to 
further distinguish themselves. After this battle, several 
weeks were spent in camp, which became very monotonous. 
The boys feared the war would end without giving them 
another chance. 

During this inactivity, the little soldier from Mississippi 
spent much time in thinking of his mother, father, and home. 
He had gone into the army without the consent of his father, 
and without the blessings of his mother. They had no idea 
where he was. Many a long night he spent crying for a sight 
of his dear mother. He was not afraid, he did not at that 
time dread war, because he knew nothing of its horrors, and 
he had the inspiration of youth, without the wisdom of man- 
hood, all on his side. But he was dying for a sight of his 
mother. He felt that if he could throw his arms about her 
neck, and hear her sweet voice, and gain her consent, he 
would be perfectly happy, but he had gone away without 
even telling his father, and what was worse, was living under 
a falsehood, which enabled him to deceive Colonel Hill. 
What was to be done, he could not tell. He was ashamed 
to let any one see him crying, and he suffered agonies. 
Finally the Cadets disbanded after the battle of Bull Run, 
and individually joined commands from their homes. The 
battle of Bull Run renewed the enthusiasm, and the mere 
thought of leaving the army would be treason and cowardice. 
The little fellow from Mississippi found himself with the tide, 
afraid to go home, and yet dying for a sight of his mother. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM!'. 27 

He enlisted in a company called the "Confederates" from 
his town, which was commanded by (then) Captain O. R. 
Singleton, and was Company " C " Eighteenth Mississippi 
Infantry. Soon afterwards the battle of Ball's Bluff was 
fought at Leesburg. Colonel Baker, a gallant Federal officer, 
was killed here, as was our own Colonel Burt, of the 
Eighteenth Mississijjpi. The Eighth Virginia, Thirteenth, 
Seventeenth, and Eighteenth Mississippi regiments consti- 
tuted the Confederate forces. The Eighteenth Mississippi 
and the Eighth Virginia winning the honors only because 
they were in front. A great many were killed on both sides, 
and the soldiers wrote home graphic stories of the battle. 
The little Mississippi boy cut a lock of hair from the mane 
of Colonel Baker's horse, which was also killed, and sent it to 
his father in a letter in which he described experiences his 
father had never known. He remembered the stories told 
by liim and the overseers of the hardships they endured 
while boys, and he compared them with his experiences. 
He assumed the duties of a man, and met dangers the serious- 
ness of which he could scarcely realize. This boy had been 
emphatically a mother's boy, timid and absolutely dependent 
on his mother for every thing. What a change had taken 
place, it would seem, and yet he cried every night and longed 
to see his dear mother ; but no one ever saw him cry. He 
was afraid they would mistake the cause. When his father 
learned where he was, he forthwith started to see him, taking 
a good stock of clothing, a bag of provisions, and his old 
body servant, faithful " Uncle Freeman." He reached camp 
late in the afternoon of a December day, 1861. He was 
personally the friend of all the company, and brought many 



28 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

of them letters and other things from their friends and families 
at home, but he had little time for any thing that night, except 
to caress his boy. Not a word was said about running away, 
and no regrets were expressed for the last enlistment. Every 
one thought the war would end before the time was out. 
Several days of happiness spent together, the father returned 
to Mississippi, where the dear mother was waiting to hear 
from her boy. "Uncle Freeman" was left to take care of 
"Bud" (the negroes all called him so). There were several 
negroes in the mess already, but Uncle Freeman must look 
after his boy, and he proved himself to be as faithful to 
"Bud" as he had always been to "Master." For a long 
time he could not reconcile himself to the scant rations the 
soldiers received, and spent many days exploring the country 
for eggs, apples, honey, and the like, which added much to 
the happiness of the mess. 

About this time, the Twenty-first Mississippi Regiment was 
assigned to the brigade in place of the Eighth Virginia, and 
the brigade was commanded by General B. W. Griffith. The 
winter had far advanced; the troops were comfortable in their 
winter quarters, and had made many pleasant acquaintances 
among the good people of Leesburg. Early in the first spring 
month orders came to break camp, and the march was begun. 
The parting of the brigade from the Leesburg people was sad 
and touching. The citizens felt that their defenders were be- 
ing taken away, and the soldiers were not forgetful of the 
many kindnesses they had received at their hands. Arriving 
at Rapidan Station, it began to snow, and soon the ground 
was covered several inches. The wagons were several miles 
behind, and the indications were strongly favorable for going 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 29 

to bed in the snow without tents. This condition had never 
before been presented to the men. Soon big log fires were 
built, and the snow raked away for spreading pallets, when 
two wagons came into camp. They contained a few tents, 
which were put up, and twenty men arranged to sleep in each 
tent. The experience was novel. The men had to edge in, 
and no one could turn over or change his position until all 
the crowd was ready. One fellow would say: "Let's turn 
over;" and when agreed to, all would turn at once. The 
soldier boy was not willing for Uncle Freeman to sleep out- 
side, and being so persistent, the men said : " Let ' Freeman ' 
come in ;" and he did sleep at " Bud's " feet. The command 
remained there only two days, and was hurried off to Rich- 
mond, and down to the Peninsula, between the York and 
James rivers. The position assigned Griffith's brigade was 
along the banks of the "Warwick," a tide river which ran 
across the Peninsula. Soon the entire command was busy 
building earth-works and filling bags with sand. Several 
weeks were passed here, the enemy being very active each 
day, trying to find out how much force the Confederates had. 
It got to be a daily occurrence to move up their line and skir- 
mish for half an hour and then retire. On one of these occa- 
sions. Colonel McKinney, formerly a professor at the school, 
who felt some anxiety for the nerves of his regiment, stood 
on top of the breast-works with his arms folded, and slowly 
walked along, stepping from one sand-bag to another, while 
exposed to a deadly fire. The writer watched him, and 
prayed he would not be hurt, but one of the last shots fired 
pierced his brain, and a gallant soldier and Christian gentle- 
man died on top of the breast-works. The Federals would 



30 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

send up a balloon every day, from which they would take 
observations. The Confederates had no long-range guns, 
and shot without even a hope of reaching it. Finally, after 
several days, a man riding a yellow horse, hitched to a set of 
wheels, on which rested a long gun, shaped like a cannon, 
but of very small caliber, came into camp and unlimbered. 
He spent a few moments arranging his gun, and then looked 
over the ground as if to pick out a place for the balloon to 
fall, took aim and fired. Sure enough, the thing collapsed 
and came to the ground, and there it remained till destroyed. 
A yell went up from the Confederate side, and the man lim- 
bered up and rode off. Nothing could be learned of this 
man. No one seemed to know any thing about him, but he 
did his work, and was off. The place was called Dam No. 
2, and had been guarded by a few Louisiana troops all win- 
ter, who had built comfortable houses of pine poles, and 
covered the dirt floors with pine straw to the depth of a foot 
or more. The soldiers who built the houses had been ordered 
to another point, and the sick and disabled men from Griffith's 
brigade, as well as the negroes, were sleeping in them. 
Finally, a fellow who had been sick and had returned for duty 
was seen to pick something from his shirt and drop it in the 
fire. The Mississippi boy saw it and asked the man what it was. 
He answered by catching another and showing it. The boy's 
" chum " saw it and became furious; told the man to leave the 
mess, he was a hog ; whereupon the fellow stated they were on 
every one, and he should not be punished on that account ; 
but the other was obdurate and ordered him off That after- 
noon, the boy and his friend concluded to go off a short dis- 
tance and examine their clothes, and, much to their horror, 



AV THE CONFEDERATE ARM!'. 31 

found they were "full." They changed every thing, and, 
burying the suits which they had taken off, went back dis- 
graced, in their own estimation. This, however, did not last 
long; — sure enough everybody. had them. 

After two weeks spent at Dam No. 2, the army again took 
up the march, this time to Richmond. Saturday night, at 
nine o'clock. May 9, 1862, every thing was ready to move. 
It had been raining several days, and the roads were very 
muddy and heavy. The army moved along all night, halting 
and starting in mud frequently waist-deep. The darkness 
was intense. We reached Williamsburg at sunrise. As the 
command passed along the street. General Jos. E. Johnston 
stood on the gallery of the hotel. This was the first time 
Griffith's brigade ever saw him. He was in command. The 
men were thoroughly broken down. It was probably the 
hardest night they had ever spent, and war in reality was on 
the country. 



32 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 



CHAPTER III. 

The Retreat from the Peninsula — The Battle of 
Williamsburg. 

The enemy followed closely our retreat, and pressed us so 
vigorously that General Johnston found it necess'ary to give 
battle. Griffith's brigade had been the rear guard all night. 
Just as this brigade passed through Williamburg, it was met 
by other troops, double-quicking to the rear. Soon the 
battle opened with fury. Battery after battery came flying 
through the streets, the cannoneers holding on to the limber 
and caisson boxes with all their strength. The broken down 
men and horses of an hour ago were pushing on with re- 
newed strength and flaming eyes. The scene was exciting. 
Not an eye was turned to right or left. The battery horses, 
with their nostrils distended, every sinew in their bodies 
worked to full tension, went flying by. The gait was so rapid 
the men could scarcely retain their places on the boxes. As 
each battery reached position, the pieces were unlimbered, 
and opened fire. The time seemed an age, and yet it was 
but a moment. Before half the line was in position, the 
wounded were being brought to the rear. The battle had 
opened with a fury the troops had never witnessed before. 
Our little Confederate was standing on the roadside with his 
regiment, expecting every moment to hear the order, "At- 
tention ! " But the promptness of the troops sent back made 
it unnecessary. 

The battle of Williamsburg opened while the church bells 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARME. 33 

were ringing. It was Sunday, and those Christian people 
who had expected to offer up prayers for the preservation 
and success of our army, found it necessary to hunt a place 
of safety. The battle of Williamsburg taught the enemy a 
lesson, and at its conclusion we began again the to march 
to Richmond, which continued without further trouble 
through the day and night. It had been raining since we 
left Dam No. 2, on the Warwick river. The seriously 
wounded were left behind. The large wagon train and the 
artillery cut the roads badly, and the march was through 
slush and mud knee deep. Frequently the heavy guns 
would sink in mud holes, and the men were constantly called 
on to put their shoulders to the wheels to lift them out. 
Monday morning found the dirtiest and most miserable look- 
ing body of men it is possible to imagine ; but on they 
trudged, half dead from fatigue and loss of sleep. No un- 
usual circumstance occurred until the following Thursday. 
Without a mouthful of food of any kind to eat since Monday 
night, the command was in bad condition and worse humor. 
We had reached a point where the York river on one side, 
and the James river on the other, ran near enough the road 
to allow the enemy's gun-boats to shell us from both rivers. 
This was very demoralizing, and was a condition which the 
men had not looked for. We were unaccustomed to the 
gun-boats, and e.xceedingly chary of those large shells, which 
filled the air with shrieks, and other wicked sounds, as well 
as with limbs and tree tops. The fact of their being gun- 
boats, iron clad "critters" in the water which we could not 
reach, seemed a hundred times worse than we afterward 
found them. Fears were entertained that the enemy would 



34 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

land a force, and under cover of their water-craft, strike us 
on the flank. This was near the White House, the place 
where General Washington first met his wife. A few mo- 
ments after, Griffith's brigade reached this point, and, while 
standing in mud knee deep, orders came to file out in the 
woods on the York river side. After reaching a slight ele- 
vation, Colonel T. W. Griffin, of the Eighteenth Mississippi 
Regiment, halted the command and spoke to his men. He 
said : " The enemy has landed a large force near the White 
House, and we are selected to drive them back to their boats. 
They outnumber us greatly, but the safety of the army re- 
quires that we whip them." He wanted the men to under- 
stand it was a desperate occasion, and if it became necessary 
to protect the army by sacrificing the brigade, the sacrifice 
would be made, but we would do our duty. He cautioned 
each man who had a long range gun to confine his fire to 
men on horseback. The enemy had instructions to pick off 
Confederate officers, and we would practice the same tactics. 
Hungry and tired, wet and sleepy, the brigade moved toward 
the White House. Ordinarily, such desperate conditions 
would have filled the men with dread ; but they moved to 
the slaughter with no apparent fear. The shells from the 
gun-boats were whizzing and whirling over our heads, making 
havoc of the timber, but silently the men moved on. We 
reached a place where there had at one time been a settle- 
ment, but now only tall chimneys and beautiful trees re- 
mained, where had stood a princely home. Beyond was an 
open field, at the far side of which stood the enemy's line of 
battle. Through the foliage we could see their skirmish line. 
Griffith's brigade immediately formed along the skirt of woods 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 35 

surrounding the old settlement, and advanced a skirmish 
Hne. No more solemn occasion or more desperate conditions 
ever confronted a body of men than the situation at that 
moment. Field officers were cautioning their men, adjutants 
were repeating the cautions, and company officers stood be- 
hind their companies to see that every man did his full duty. 
While the preliminaries were going on, the enemy retired to 
the river under cover of their gun-boats. Why, we never 
knew, but when our skirmish line advanced that of the en- 
emy fell rapidly back. There was no battle, and, as night 
came on, the brigade retraced the route by which it came, 
and found the army far beyond the point of danger. After 
three days and nights without rations, and rain falling upon 
us continually, we went into camp near New Kent Court- 
house, about five miles distant from our starting point. Soon 
afterward, a wagon loaded with corn was brought in, and 
rations of one ear to each man were distributed. Most of 
the men ate the corn raw, but a few tried to boil it into 
hominy. None, however, succeeded fully, because they 
would taste and taste while it was cooking until it all was 
gone. Early next morning the command was called into line. 
The enemy had driven in our pickets, and we expected a 
brush. Colonel Griffin, of the Eighteenth Mississippi, told 
his men: "The enemy's haversacks are filled with ham and 
biscuit, and if you want rations you must capture them." 
But the enemy consisted of a small cavalry force and did not 
give us the chance. That night, after halting for an hour's 
rest, with no hope of getting any thing to eat, Colonel Griffin 
told his men the orders would not permit any man to interfere 
with private property, yet if a cow tried to bite any man that 



36 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

cow must be shot. But the cow never came, and we trudged 
through the mud and rain all night. The following morning 
we drew a pint of flour each, no salt, no meat. We mixed 
the flour with water, wrapped it around our ram-rods, and 
baked it over the fire. It was the sweetest morsel our 
" Little Confederate " ever tasted. He was never so hungry 
before or since. 

A few days more found the Army of Northern Virginia 
camped along the south bank of the Chickahominy, where 
in a few weeks were fought a series of the greatest battles 
of modern times. 







" Billy " Blake. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 



CHAPTER IV. 

The Army Arrives at the Chickahominy River, and Be- 
gins TO Fortify — The Battle of Seven Pines — Uncle 
Freeman and a Bomb-shell — Billy Blake and a Pa- 
per Collar. 

The Army of Northern Virginia was now on the south side 
of the Chickahominy, busily engaged digging ditches and 
throwing up breast-works. General McClellan crossed a 
large body of his army, and began to fortify his position on 
our right. General Johnston determined to prevent it, and 
moved General A. P. Hill's division to the- attack, which 
brought on the battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks), one of 
the most stubbornly contested battles for the time it lasted 
during the war. Griffith's brigade occupied a ravine on Mrs. 
Price's farm, being held in reserve. The horrors of the 
battle could well be understood by the great number of 
wounded that were hurried to the rear. We expected every 
moment to be called on, but we did not move until after 
night. About ten o'clock we moved to the front, passing 
over the dead and wounded of both armies. Our troops 
had driven the enemy from its works, and far beyond, leav- 
ing its dead and wounded in our hands. Griffith's brigade 
stood on picket all night, amid the groans of the wounded 
and dying, and among thousands of the dead. We were 
cautioned to keep very quiet, the enemy were but a few 
yards from us, and would open fire if they discovered us. 

Captain Bostwick, of Company " H," Eighteenth Missis- 
sippi, known as the Hamer Rifles from Yazoo county, was 



38 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

a very large and fleshy man. He owned a body-servant 
named Tom, who was ordinarily very faithful and generally 
on hand, but the surroundings just now were not congenial 
to any of us, to say nothing of Tom. Captain Bostwick was 
a fearless man, who knew no danger, but wanted to obey 
orders. He was hungry, and began in a low tone to call, 
"Tom!" ''Tomr "Tom!" Tom did not answer, but the 
Yanks did. We were lying down in a thicket of small pines, 
which were riddled in a it\s minutes. It seemed as if they 
had a million men, and the way we clung to the ground 
would have been credible to a lot of flounders. We remained 
quiet for an hour or so, and when daylight came the enemy 
had recrossed the Chickahominy. In this battle General 
Johnston was severely wounded. He was carried to Rich- 
mond and placed in the Ballard Hotel, where he lay be- 
tween life and death for some weeks. At this time peerless 
Robert E. Lee was assigned to the command of the Army 
of Northern Virginia. Griffith's brigade was returned to the 
ravine on Mrs. Price's farm, through which ran the Chicka- 
hominy river, and here we remained several days watching 
the enemy. Each day our artillery would take position and 
shell the enemy, who responded in good shape. It finally 
reached the point when the latter would fire on a single man, 
who exposed himself. During all this time our wagons and 
servants were far in the rear. We had not seen Uncle 
Freeman for two weeks, and we wondered what had become 
of him. He finally turned up, however, one afternoon, just 
as the sun was disappearing behind the woods. Uncle 
Freeman had been in Richmond doing odd jobs to make 
money, with which to buy something to eat for our mess. 



AY THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 39 

He reached the left of the line, and stood gazing at the 
Yankee camps across the river. He had a blue bucket of 
molasses on his head, and a sack of baker's bread and 
bologna sausage in his hand. Uncle Freeman had curiosity 
like other people, and against the advice of several men he 
walked up to the crown of the hill and watched the enemy. 
He had been there probably three minutes when about twenty 
guns opened on him. The shells tore up the ground and 
threw dirt fifty feet high. But when the dust cleared away 
Uncle Freeman was gone. We afterward learned he was 
in Richmond, nine miles away, for supper. What became 
of his supplies we never knew, but the circumstance made 
a Christian of Uncle Freeman. He held prayer-meeting 
every night in camp after that for a month, and would force 
the other negroes in the regiment to attend. He said : "I 
gwine ter bless de Lord all the balance of my life, for spar- 
ing me on that occasion." Uncle Freeman, until the day 
of his death, would tell about how the Yankees blowed him 
plumb to Richmond. We asked him what became of the 
molasses. He said: " Gord er mighty knows. I aynt seed 
em sence." 

William Blake, a warm friend of the Little Confederate, was 
detailed by Colonel Griffin as courier for the regiment. He 
was called "Billy Blake," and was a pet of the entire regi- 
ment. Billy was exceedingly handsome, and up to this time 
managed to keep himself well dressed. He and the Little 
Confederate were about the same age. They were very suc- 
cessful foragers, and generally knew what was going on. By 
some means, Billy got hold of a box of paper collars, the first 
thev ever heard of. He divided them with his friend, and 



40 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

they agreed when one was soiled it should be given to Uncle 
Freeman to wash. They each gave Uncle Freeman some 
soiled clothes and two paper collars, requesting him to have 
them ready that afternoon. Soon Uncle Freeman had the 
things in a kettle boiling. When he was ready to take them 
out, which he proceeded to do with a stick, he could not find 
the collars. He knew he put them in the kettle together 
with other things, and could not account for their absence. 
The two boys were sitting at the root of a large tree, watching 
and listening to Uncle Freeman. He said: "Hi, here! what 
dun 'come of dem nice white collars?" He raked the bottom 
of the kettle again and again, but found no collars. He then 
emptied the water and found a few fragments of paper. He 
said: "My God! dis is mighty curious. I put dem collars 
in that kettle sure, and I been standing here all the time." 
The boys heard him talking, so Billy said to him: "Uncle 
Freeman, hurry up! 'Bud' and I want to go." Uncle Free- 
man walked over to the boys with a few scraps of paper in 
his hand. He said : " Mars Billy, did you give me any white 
collars to wash?" "Yes," said Billy, "we gave you two, 
and we would like to have them right away; we are going to 
town." Uncle Freeman was greatly troubled. He could 
not explain the loss, so Billy told him he must pay for them, 
and that each one was worth a dollar. Billy collected two 
dollars from him, and arranged with another friend, Jim 
Finley, to tell Uncle Freeman they were paper, and, of 
course, could not be washed. Well, now, maybe Uncle 
Freeman did n't rear and charge ! It was a long time before 
Billy Blake could get any more clothes washed by Uncle 
Freeman. He talked about it for several weeks, saying : 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 41 

" Nobody but a Yankee would er made collars out of paper 
to 'ceive folks." Of course, the two dollars were returned 
to Uncle Freeman many times over. 

Billy Blake was a gallant soldier, as brave as Forrest. He 
was desperately wounded at Gettysburg, and lay on the field 
a day and night without attention. He was finally picked 
up, but with little hope that he would recover. The Federal 
surgeons amputated one of his legs near the hip, but Billy 
still lives, and is a prominent citizen of New Orleans, where 
he is surrounded by a lovely family and a large circle of 
friends. He and the Little Confederate are still devoted 
friends. 

Uncle Freeman was faithful and true to the last, and his 
honesty was unimpeachable. He was my friend as well as 
my servant, and, negro though he was, I drop a sad but 
willing tear to his memory, and as a tribute to his loyalty. 



42 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 



CHAPTER V. 

The Seven Days' Battles of Richmond — The Battle of 
Savage Station — The Death of General Griffith — 
Colonel William Barksdale assumes Command of 
the Brigade — The Little Confederate tries to get 
A Pair of Shoes. 

The seven days' battles of Richmond will be a study for 
future military leaders. We very often hear the expression 
that this or that campaign or movement was "Napoleonic," 
but the student of the future will find more genius in the con- 
ception of the plan of the seven days' battles than he will in 
any battle Napoleon ever fought. A writer in the Boston 
Transcript several years ago, in a commentary upon the dif- 
ferent generals of the war, stated: " McClellan was the 
greatest general developed on either side, and while he was not 
always successful, he never suffered defeat." This statement 
will not be sustained by a single man who served in the "Army 
of the Potomac " during the seven days' battles. General 
McClellan was not only defeated at Richmond, but he was 
routed. Nor is this fact a disparagement of him as a great 
commander. On the contrary, we believe he was the only 
general at that time who could have saved the Union army. 
The attack of General Lee's army was irresistible. No troops 
on earth, with the arms then in use, could have withstood his 
charges. It has been thirty-three years since those great bat- 
tles were fought, but the scenes and incidents which our Little 
Confederate witnessed on those occasions are as fresh in his 
mind as when they occurred, and his opinion of what took 



IiV THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 43 

place then has been confirmed again and again by subsequent 
experience and study. 

Stonewall Jackson, with his command, was in the Shenan- 
doah valley confronting a superior force. General Lee's 
plan provided that he should move with great dispatch to the 
rear of McClellan's right flank. The attack was made on 
Thursday afternoon. The enemy's right flank was doubled 
back on his right center, having been driven from his works 
at every point where an attack was made. It was hoped 
that Jackson would reach his rear on Friday, but he did not. 
On Saturday, the battle of "Gains' Mill" was fought. 
Griffith's brigade was held in reserve. We watched Cobb's 
Georgia brigade move forward through the Chickahominy 
swamp, under a deadly fire from what was known as the 
"Wild Cat Battery." This fort, from which the big guns 
were shelling Cobb's men, was casemated with railroad iron, 
which had ten to fifteen feet of earth thrown on top. In 
front of this, and also of the breast-works on either side, all 
the timber had been cut down, falling in the direction of 
our lines. All the small branches of the trees had bayonets 
stuck on them, and it was impossible for Cobb's men to make 
much headway, but, in spite of the obstructions, these brave 
Georgians pushed on. We watched them with great ad- 
miration, and saw them finally climb over the enemy's works. 
The enemy, however, was reinforced, and very soon drove 
the Georgians back, yet the gallant fellows reformed and 
captured the fort the second time, but were driven back 
again. Night closed the battle. Griffith's brigade moved 
forward, and remained in line of battle all night. It was un- 
derstood we would renew the attack in the morning. Two 



44 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

men, Bateman Brown and William Howd, were detailed from 
Company "C" Eighteenth Mississippi regiment, with in- 
structions to crawl as near the enemy's works as possible, and 
report the first movement of any attempt at retreat. We 
heard that in case he moved, we would attack and hold him. 
Brown and Howd returned about two o'clock Sunday morning 
with the information, but we did not advance. It was said be- 
cause General Magruder, our division commander, failed to 
carry out his instructions. About sunrise we moved forward, 
and soon had possession of the enemy's works without firing a 
gun. As we stood in the fort and ditches, we wondered what it 
all meant. Suddenly the enemy's batteries, a mile off, began 
shelUng our line. We formed on both sides of the York 
River Railroad. There were evidences of great confusion 
in the enemy's ranks. All kinds of army and camp stuff 
were scattered in every direction, cooking utensils, medical, 
commissary and quartermaster supplies, and hundreds of 
other things. It was intensely hot, and to prevent our men 
from getting water, medicines were thrown in the wells and 
springs. 

While waiting the order to advance, a wicket shell struck 
the railroad section house just in our front and exploded, a 
piece of which we distinctly saw pass over our heads. In 
falling it struck General Griffith on the thigh, tearmg the 
flesh down to his knee, while he was sitting on his horse near 
the fort just in our rear. He was removed to Richmond, 
where he died that night. His death was a great grief as 
well as a great loss. He was a man of much promise, and 
while he had already distinguished himself, would certainly 
have won still greater distinction had he lived. 



AV THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 45 

Colonel William Barksdale, of the Thirteenth Mississippi, 
the senior colonel of the brigade, assumed command. We 
moved forward, overtook the enemy about two miles distant, 
and immediately brought on the battle of Savage Station 
(the enemy called it Peach Orchard), where only two regi- 
ments of Barksdale's brigade were engaged, the Thirteenth 
and Twenty-first Mississippi, but several other brigades were 
in it, and all together made a very hot fight. The battle was 
carried into the night, a terrific rain followed, and next morn- 
ing the ground was covered with pools of water. Several 
thousand Federal soldiers lay dead and wounded on the field 
and in the adjacent woods. Our Little Confederate had lost 
his shoes in the mud of the Chickahominy bottom the day 
before, and asked a friend (Fort Saunders) to accompany him 
among the dead, and see if they could find a pair to fit. 
They examined several pairs, and finally Saunders said : 
" Here is a good pair of boots, but they are so wet I can not 
pull them off" He told the Little Confederate, "Hold on 
to one arm while I pull at the boot," and while thus engaged 
the Yankee's leg came off. A shell had nearly torn it off 
before, but we had not observed it. When Saunders fell 
backward with the leg, the Little Confederate said, " I do not 
want any shoes," and starting away passed a man he sup- 
posed to be dead, who had a splendid haversack which the 
little fellow fancied he wanted. He thought it would be no 
harm to take the haversack, and stooped down to do so. 
As he pulled at it, the Yankee opened his eyes and asked 
for water, saying: "There is a spoon in my haversack." 
The Little Confederate took the spoon and gave him water 
from a pool near by. The man died after drinking the third 



46 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

spoonful. The Little Confederate did not disturb the haver- 
sack, but he kept the spoon and has it yet. It is a very- 
large tablespoon, engraved " H. E. C," and was manu- 
factured by "Butler & McCarthy." He advertised it in the 
Detroit Free Press for a year, but never elicited an inquiry 
or response of any kind. He used the spoon through the 
balance of the war, but wore the end off parching corn. 

On looking over the battle field, we found evidence of 
great confusion and defeat. The enemy threw away their 
guns and every thing else which would impede their flight, 
but the guns were nearly all bent or broken. They had 
placed them between two sapplings as they ran and bent 
the barrels. Prior to this time we had very few rifles. 
Nothing but old muzzle-loading, smooth-bore muskets. It 
will, therefore, be easily undersiood at what disadvantage we 
fought at long range. The only thing we could do was to 
"charge 'em," and get within smooth-bore distance. Up to 
this time our men had driven the enemy from every point 
of attack. We remained in the Savage Station neighbor- 
hood Monday while the cavalry were trying to locate them. 
During Sunday night after the battle, " Stonewall Jackson " 
reached our line, but too late to cut off the enemy's retreat. 
Our inability to hold him in position on the Chickahominy 
enabled him to escape before General Jackson could arrive. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 47 



CHAPTER VI. 

The Battles of White Oak Swamp and Malvern Hill — 
President Davis, General Lee and others Meet. 

Monday afternoon General D. H. Hill found the enemy in 
what is known as White-Oak Swamp, trying to reach his gun- 
boats on the James river. General Hill attacked him with 
great vigor, driving him two miles, but lost a number of his 
men. It was a hard fought battle, and thousands of Federal 
dead lay on the field. Proper credit has never been given 
General Hill for this engagement. He fought an army three 
or four times his strength, and drove them so long as daylight 
lasted. Barksdale's brigade reached the battle field about 
eleven o'clock at night, and stood picket until morning. 
It was a terrible march, the night as dark as Erebus. 
As we worked our way through the woods we stumbled on 
the dead and wounded at every step, and the wounded would 
often cry out in their intense suffering. All night we could 
hear them begging for water, and occasionally one would 
beg to be killed and relieved of his suffering. Up to this 
time our Little Confederate had never seen such horrible 
sights, and had never been very badly frightened, but he now 
realized very forcibly that war was terrible, and his chances 
of ever seeing home again were largely against him. When 
morning came the enemy had retreated. Again our com- 
mand moved slowly back into the road, leading, from Rich- 
mond to "Turkey Bend" on the James river. We had 



48 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

nothing to eat since Saturday except green apples, the troops 
were tired and sleepy. Barksdale's brigade halted in the 
main road, and the Eighteenth Mississippi regiment stood at 
a point where it forks with another. There was a large oak 
tree in the fork, on which three sign boards were nailed. 
One pointing to Richmond, one to Turkey Bend, and the 
other to some place now forgotten. We were silently wait- 
ing and not a sound was heard. The men had no informa- 
tion about the enemy. President Davis, General Lee, 
General Jackson and a few others galloped up to the point 
where we were, and in a moment General Huger came up. 
Mr. Davis was dressed in citizen's clothes. I remember he 
wore a Panama hat, and I thought him the grandest looking 
man I had ever seen. General Lee inquired of General 
Huger: " Do you occupy Malvern Hill?" General Huger 
answered : " No, the enemy has obstructed the road by throw- 
ins laree trees across it ; I could not reach Malvern Hill with 
my artillery." General Lee remarked: "You should have 
done so with your infantry; move at once." 

But it was too late, McClellan's army was strongly posted 
on Malvern Hill at the time the conversation occurred. 
Malvern Hill was the key to the situation, and both com- 
manders knew it. Had General Lee's orders been carried 
out, the Army of the Potomac would have been prisoners the 
following day. 

Soon after the conversation between Generals Lee and 
Huger, every thing was headed toward Malvern Hill. The 
enemy's gun-boats were shelling the woods at every point in 
our front. Barksdale's brigade reached a position in front of 
the enemy's lines, screened from view somewhat by small 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 49 

pine trees. We lay down and waited for the command to 
move forward. Large shells from the gun-boats and from 
land batteries, also, were tearing and literally smashing every 
thing in reach. The Camden Rifles, a company of the 
Eighteenth Mississippi, lay under a large oak tree. A ten 
inch shell struck it about ten feet above the ground, cutting 
off the entire top. This fell on the Camden Rifles, killing 
several men and creating a worse panic than if ten times the 
number had been killed by bullets. Very soon the battle 
opened. The enemy was massed on all sides of Malvern 
Hill, his artillery planted, so as to command the country for 
miles. One line stood above the other on the steep hill. 
It was a terrible occasion. Brigade after brigade was sent 
against his lines, and were slaughtered. It was one of the 
hotest battles ever fought up to that time. It was impossible 
to reach the top of the hill, and yet the charge was renewed 
time and again. Barksdale's brigade lost a great many good 
men. Captain E. G. Henry, of Company "C," Eighteenth 
Mississippi, was wounded in the leg, about one hundred 
yards from the enemy's lines, and bled to death before 
assistance reached him. He was a patriot in the highest 
sense, a man who regarded duty above all other considera- 
tions. A great many others were killed, but I remember the 
universal sorrow at the death of Green B. Crane, a young 
man of faultless character. He graduated at the University 
of Mississippi at the breaking out of the war, and gave 
promise of a brilliant future. He was brave as Caesar, 
determined as Jackson, and gentle as Ruth. He was liberal, 
chivalrous and companionable. What more could be said of 
him ? The Little Confederate and Green Crane were school- 



50 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

mates, and he remembers him with deep and tender affection. 
The horrors of the battle of Malvern Hill can never be 
known, and hardly even imagined by those who were not 
there. While the enemy retreated during the night, our 
army was badly crippled, but remained on the field. We 
had retained our position, but at tremendous sacrifice. 
What the result would have been had General Lee's orders 
been carried out must forever remain unknown. 




-X i 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 51 



CHAPTER VTI. 

McLaws' Division Left at Richmond — General Lee 
Moves toward Washington — A Sickening Sight on 
the Battle Field of White Oak Swamp — McLaws 
Joins General Lee at Manassas — The Second Bat- 
tle OF Manassas — The Army Crosses the Potomac — 
The Surrender of Harper's Ferry. 

After the enemy had retreated, the Army of Northern 
Virginia went into camp along the James river, and Barks- 
dale's brigade was located at Camp Holly, General Washing- 
ton's old camp. A fine field of corn in roasting-ear furnished 
rations for the army for several days. Eight or ten ears at a 
meal was an average dinner for a man. McClelland was 
superseded in command of the Army of the Potomac by 
General Pope. This occurred a few weeks after the battle of 
Richmond. General Lee, with most of his army, moved in 
the direction of Manassas, and was met by General Pope, 
and here was fought the second battle of Manassas, the 
enemy occupying the position the Confederate army occupied 
at the first battle. McLaws' division of Longstreet's corps 
was left behind to defend Richmond, and the enemy, also, 
left a force to keep McLaws busy. About two weeks after 
the battle of Malvern Hill the enemy made a demonstration 
which was promptly met by General McLaws. In passing 
through a part of White Oak battle field, we came to a plank 
fence about a mile long. This fence passed through timber, 
and here we saw a most harrowing sight. Five or six 
hundred dead Yankees were hanging across the fence, killed 



52 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

as they were getting over. The buzzards had torn their 
clothing nearly off and stripped the flesh from their bones. 
They were scarcely any thing but bones and rags when we saw 
them. The skulls with hair on them looked horrible. These 
poor men were killed in the Monday night — General D. H. 
Hill's — fight. The Little Confederate was beginning to grow 
case hardened. Dead men were so common, little notice 
was taken of them. Soon after this circumstance McLaws' 
division, of which Barksdale's brigade formed a part, hur- 
ried to Richmond, thence to Hanover Junction. We found 
tents already stretched, and occupied them about two hours, 
when a terrible storm came up which blew down every thing. 
We reached Hanover Junction by rail, but "hoofed it" the 
balance of the way to Warrenton, near Manassas, where we 
found thousands and thousands of dead Federals. One 
might have walked five miles on dead men. It was two days 
after the second battle of Manassas. The weather was fear- 
fully hot, and decomposition had set in. The bodies were all 
swollen, and presented the appearance of men weighing three 
hundred pounds. The enemy's ambulance corps was busy 
burying the dead under flag of truce. The Little Con- 
federate saw a man looking into the mouths of the dead 
Yankees. They were wide open. When the man found 
a tooth plugged with gold, he knocked it out with his bayonet. 
We saw him afterward with a pocket full of teeth. 

There was a regiment of " Bucktail Zouaves," I think, One 
Hundred and Eighth New York, about eight hundred strong. 
Nearly all of them were killed. General Gregg's Texas 
brigade lay in the sedge grass several hundred yards in 
advance of a battery of the Richmond Howitzers, which was 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 53 

playing havoc on the enemy's lines. The Bucktails, we sup- 
posed, were ordered to take the battery. They were dressed 
in red pants and blue jackets. Every man had a buck's tail 
in his hat. They moved at double quick on the battery, 
unconscious of Gregg's men in the sedge. When within 
fifty yards, the Texans took deliberate aim and killed almost 
every man. Over seven hundred Bucktails lay in line. It 
was awful ! They were good soldiers, and it was a pity, but 
it was war. The Little Confederate found a buck's tail and 
wore it in his hat, until some old ragged rebel appropriated 
it without so much as saying " Boo." We proceeded from 
here to Leesburg, Va., where Barksdale's brigade had spent 
the winter of 1861 and 1862. The people were delighted to 
see us, and filled our haversacks with "grub." It was 
difficult to get Barksdale's brigade to move. Beautiful 
women, married and single, hung around them, recalling the 
happy associations of the preceding winter. 

Just before the Seven Days battle Uncle Freeman was 
taken sick, and the Little Confederate wrote his father 
to send " Matt" to take his place, it being the intention to 
send Uncle Freeman home. Matt was sent at once, and 
reached the command at Leesburg, but by that time Uncle 
Freeman had gotten well, and was not willing to leave 
"Master's boy," so both continued with us as long as the 
Little Confederate remained with the Army of Northern 
Virginia. Matt was a great favorite with his master's 
family, and when he left home promised to look well after 
his young master. He reached camp with two good suits of 
clothes and shoes for the Little Confederate. He had, also, 
a number of letters for different members of Company "C." 



54 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

We listened to Matt talk nearly all night. The last thing before 
going to sleep he said to his young master: " When you get 
tired, you get on Matt's back. He carried you before this, 
and he can carry you now." But the Little Confederate 
said: "Matt, you keep up, I will be there when we 
stop." 

The arnrfy crossed the Potomac river at the "Point of 
Rocks," not far above Leesburg, and marched to Frederick 
City, Maryland. We remained here a few days, when Mc- 
Laws' division moved toward Hagerstown, thence to Harper's 
Ferry, where the enemy had a force of twenty-eight thousand 
men. Barksdale's brigade was put in front, and reached 
Maryland Heights, opposite Harper's Ferry. The enemy 
had no idea of allowing us to climb the heights, and opened 
on our column with his big guns. We were four days storm- 
ing the heights. Whatever ground we gained during the day 
we pulled our guns over at night. The mountain was very 
steep. We carried up the wheels and axles one at a time, 
and a hundred or more men would pull the guns up with 
ropes. By day we would have our guns in position, and 
open on the enemy as soon as it was light. We would often 
reach a large bowlder which it was necessary to pass. The 
enemy's big shells would strike them and scatter small pieces 
of rock in all directions. We advanced under heavy fire, 
but very slowly. Nothing to eat, and no water, though the 
Potomac was within two miles. We finally reached the sum- 
mit, having driven the enemy into Harper's Ferry. We were 
nearly starved. We scrambled over the bread crusts, onion 
peels, and meat skins that the enemy had thrown away. 
Stonewall Jackson had Harper's Ferry surrounded on both 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 55 

sides of the river. About midnight, after capturing Mary- 
land Heights, Barksdale's brigade was hurried down the val- 
ley to meet a column of the enemy coming to the relief of 
Harper's Ferry. We double-quicked about five miles, and 
by dawn formed a line along a ridge. We could plainly see 
the enemy's camp, and his guns stacked. We expected an en- 
gagement every minute, but General Barksdale galloped along 
the line, and said: "Boys, Harper's Ferry has surrendered." 
A yell went up, and the enemy fell back in the valley. Our 
march to Harper's Ferry began, and as we started, the enemy 
opened on us with his artillery. Our wagons and servants 
were two or three miles ahead of us, and were ordered to 
move before we reached them. A negro had been left on 
the side of the road asleep, and was there as we passed; but 
of course we had no knowledge of it. The shells were fall- 
ing on all sides. One struck the ground very near the sleep- 
ing negro. He had two or three canteens, a frying-pan, and 
a camp-kettle strapped around his neck. He rushed by, 
making as much noise as a train of cars. Nobody could at- 
tract his attention. He was flying. Finally a man grabbed 
him, and asked: "What is the matter?" " Lord, I seed the 
cannon bust, and I hearn the bum-er coming. Marster, 
lemme go." 

We reached Harper's Ferry in a short time, and found that 
General Jackson was already paroling the prisoners. We 
remained on the Maryland side until next morning, Tuesday, 
September i6, 1862, when we crossed and occupied the 
street. Here we were given five hard-tacks each. We 
moved at four p. m., supposedly for the charming valley of 
the Shenandoah, to rest and enjoy our victories. 



56 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 



CHAPTER VIII. 

The Army Recrosses the Potomac — The Battle of 
Sharpsburg — General Sims Wounded — D. H. Hill 
AND HIS Nerve. 

Tuesday, September i6, 1862, McLaws' division, composed 
of Kershaw's South Carohna, Cobb's Georgia, Sims' Georgia, 
and Barksdale's Mississippi brigades, stood in the streets of 
Harper's Ferry all day. About four o'clock in the afternoon, 
we received orders to move. The column headed south. 
We supposed that, having captured so many prisoners at 
Harper's Ferry, we were going into the beautiful valley of 
Virginia for rest and rations. The men moved along at a 
lively gait. As night came on, we sang all kinds of planta- 
tion songs, "Rock the Cradle, Julie," " Sallie, Get Your 
Hoe Cake Done," "I'm Gwying down the Newburg Road," 
and so on. The men were scattered for two miles along the 
road. The woods rang with their melodies. We had passed 
through a severe campaign, comprising many hard-fought 
battles, and marched several hundred miles with very scant 
rations. The scenes we had passed through in the last two 
months were dreadful. Not a man in the division but had 
lost a dear friend, or maybe a relative, and their bodies had 
been buried in a long trench without a shroud. Ordinarily, 
this would be a solemn and mournful retrospection, but these 
were not ordinary times, nor ordinary men. The times were 
eventful and the men were heroes, who realized that there 
was no sentiment in war, and that they must meet the trials 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 57 

and bear the sufferings incident to hostilities between two 
great armies. When we go back to those scenes, we are 
amazed at the fortitude and endurance of those men. On 
they marched, singing at the top of their voices, dreaming 
of the good "ash cakes" and "apple butter" we had heard 
so much about down at Winchester, Strasburg, and other 
places in the valley, when suddenly we came to where the 
road forked. The column turned into the right-hand road. 
As each company filed into the changed direction, their me- 
lodious voices were hushed. They knew that the war was 
not over. They realized that we would recross the Potomac, 
and that this meant fight. Within half an hour, not a sound 
could be heard except the din of the moving artillery. All 
the humor and bright anticipations of an hour ago were gone. 
The men were silent, but determined. Very soon the head 
of the column quickened the pace, and we were forced to 
trot nearly all the remainder of the night to keep up. The 
step was growing rapid. Hundreds of good men could not 
keep it. 

About daylight we reached Shepardstown on the Potomac 
river, and crossed over to the Maryland side, but we crossed 
with a small proportion of the command which began the 
march. We remember that Company " C," Eighteenth Mis- 
sissippi, left Harper's Ferry with over sixty men and three 
officers, but we went into the battle of " Sharpsburg " with 
sixteen men and one officer. Other companies, of course, 
suffered similar dimunition. The march was one of the 
severest ever made by infantry troops. About thirty miles 
in fourteen hours. The river at Shepardstown is over a half 
mile wide, and very shoaly. A gallant little Irishman, be- 



58 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

longing to Company " C," Eighteenth Mississippi Regiment, 
Tommy Brennan, never played out. He was one of the 
sixteen who crossed the river. He was of very small stature, 
but brave as a lion. In crossing he held his gun, cartridge 
box and shoes on his head to prevent them from getting wet. 
When within about twenty yards of the shore, he hallooed 
out: "Boys, I am over dry shod." But as he looked back 
to make the announcement he stepped into a deep hole, and 
wejit under head and ears, gun and all. When he arose he 
said, as if to finish the remark : "After I get on some dry 
clothes." 

We soon arrived at Sharpsburg. The battle was raging. 
We halted in the roadway of the little town. We were 
given thirty minutes to rest. Two men were detailed from 
each company to fill the canteens. The little Confederate 
and W. L. McKee were detailed from Company " C," and 
by the time we returned the order to march was given. We 
double-quicked about a mile, and reached a grove of large 
trees. Our line was formed. General Barksdale rode in front 
and addressed the men thus: "The situation is desperate. 
The enemy is pressing the center. We must drive them 
back, Stonewall Jackson says so. I want every man to do 
his duty as a Mississippian. If any of you can not, step out, 
and I will excuse you." Not a man moved. It was a trying 
ordeal. The shells were flying thick, and we knew in a 
moment numbers of us would be killed, but the endurance 
that stood the men so well on the march from Harper's 
Ferry would hold them now. General Barksdale then said : 
" Pile every thing except guns and cartridge boxes at this 
tree. There were about seven or eight blankets in the 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMl'. 59 

brigade. They constituted the pile. While we stood here, 
General D. H. Hill galloped up on a yellow horse, about one 
hundred yards in our front, and halted. He dropped the 
reins and took out his field glasses and watched the enemy. 
Major Ratchford, his adjutant general, joined him. In a 
moment a shell passed through the general's horse. The 
horse was killed instantly, he never kicked. General Hill 
did not move the glass from his eyes, but shaking the stirrups 
from his feet stepped a few paces off and continued watching 
the enemy without the slightest emotion. Major Ratchford 
dismounted and removed the saddle and bridle from the dead 
horse. Finally, General Hill mounted Major Ratchford's 
horse and rode off. This was characteristic of D. H. Hill. 
Nothing could excite him. He was the coolest man in our 
army. We have seen General S. D. Lee in hot places, and 
have since the war spoken to him of his nerve, but he 
answered: " D. H. Hill was the coolest man I ever knew, 
I took lessons from him." 

"Left-face," "forward march," rang out, and we moved 
by columns toward the center of our lines. "Left front, 
into line " was repeated by the company officers all along. 
We moved at double-quick across plowed ground, and 
formed line behind a high rail fence, just at the edge of a 
beautiful wood. As our line advanced to position we passed 
General Robert E. Lee. He sat on his horse near a battery 
of the Richmond Howitzers, which was actively engaged. 
We cheered him as we passed. The shell and shot were 
pounding the earth and cutting down the timber. Men were 
falling at every step. It was dreadful. A spotted cow ran 
through the line, going to our rear, she ran like a race horse. 



60 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

Her tail was high in the air. A shell struck the ground a 
few feet in her front and exploded. The dirt went in all 
directions and left a big hole, into which she plunged, but 
scrambled out, continuing her race in the same direction. 
Kit Gilmer, of Company " C," hallooed out: "Boys, she's 
a Confedeaate cow, she 's going South." We remained be- 
hind a fence about five minutes. Ransom's North Carolina 
brigade was in our front. The shells were shrieking, the 
grape shots were whizzing, and the minnies were sizzing. The 
fence was nearly shot down. The North Carolinians were 
being driven back. They fought desperately, but were over- 
powered. We waited in awful suspense. In a moment we 
would rise to meet the vanquishers of Ransom's men. 

" Press forward, Mississippians," came from proud Gen- 
eral Kershaw. Ransom's men pressed through our ranks. 
We rushed at the enemy with a yell, and drove them back, 
almost reaching the top of the hill. We were now in large 
timber. The enemy fell back to their temporary works of 
logs and brush. Our line halted. General Barksdale rushed 
to the front and said, "Forward! take the works!" Two 
minutes afterward, we stood on the top of them and shot the 
enemy as he ran down the hill. We had checked the 
enemy's attack on our army's center, and had driven him 
back. Our line advanced about two miles. The day was 
won. McLaws' division met General Lee's expectations, but 
some of the noblest men who ever lived gave their lives to 
the cause in that battle. Sharpsburg was one of the bloodiest 
as well as one of the most stubbornly contested battles of the 
war. An idea of the loss can be gained by a comparison of 
Company "C" Eighteenth Mississippi regiment. Of the 




Suddenly a Shell exploded in their midst. 



IX THE CONFEDERATE ARMl^. 61 

sixteen men and a lieutenant who took part in the battle, 
six were killed and five were wounded, leaving five men and 
a lieutenant. Sam. W. Finley, Pleasant Smith, Jas. E. 
Burns, W. L. McKee, and the Little Confederate, together 
with Lieutenant Wm. McKie, were the survivors. The bat- 
tle was fought on Wednesday, September 17, 1862. The 
weather was pleasant. We used the muzzle-loading gun, and 
had to bite off the end of the cartridge. Our hands and 
faces were as black as the powder. About 4 p. m. we were 
lying in an apple orchard. The enemy, in our front, were 
lying behind a stone fence about six hundred yards distant. 
The artillery on both sides was keeping up a desultory firing. 
The enemy's shell would occasionally knock off a limb from 
an apple tree. We ate apples as long as we could swallow 
them. Billy McKee and the Little Confederate worked their 
way to a branch, which ran between the lines, and filled their 
canteens. Generals J. E. B. Stuart, Cobb, Kershaw, Sims, 
and Barksdale stood about fifty yards in front of our regiment 
watching the enemy behind the rock fence. The Little Con- 
federate was watching the group. Suddenly a shell exploded 
in their midst. General Sims fell backward heavily to the 
ground. The Little Confederate rushed to him, placing his 
canteen of water to the general's mouth. General Sims 
clutched the canteen and chattered it against his teeth. In 
a moment Sam Finley caught him by one arm, and the Little 
Confederate took the other, and then pulled him down the 
hill, and out of range of the shells. The other generals fol- 
lowed, but found that it was only a bad powder burn, and 
resumed their positions. Soon a litter arrived, and General 
Sims was carried to the rear. 



62 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

We lay in our position all night, during which time num- 
bers of those who broke down on the march from Harper's 
Ferry caught up and fell into line. About two o'clock in 
the morning, the Little Confederate was awakened by Matt, 
who had a canteen of buttermilk and a good sized ash cake. 
Lieutenant McKie, Sam Finley, Billy McKee, Jim Burns, 
and Pleas. Smith, together with the Litde Confederate, cer- 
tainly enjoyed that banquet. We could never learn how Matt 
found us in that long line of battle. Thursday we remained 
on the field within sight of the enemy's lines. Friday, Sep- 
tember 19th, we moved off towards Shepardstown„ As we 
marched along, the Little Confederate noticed General Sims 
near the way sitting on his horse. He spoke of the circum- 
stance of the shell to some of his friends who caught up after 
the battle. General Sims noticed him, and asked, "Are 
you the boy who gave me the water and helped to carry me 
off the field Wednesday?" The little fellow stopped to an- 
swer the general's question. The latter said, "Would you 
like to go with me as courier?" "No, sir," said the boy, 
" I would rather stay with my company." The general then 
asked his name, also his company and regiment, and where 
he lived, but he could not persuade him to leave his com- 
pany. We passed a large stone barn, where the wounded 
•of Barksdale's brigade had been taken. Among the wounded 
was "Kit Gilmer." A bullet passed through his leg crush- 
ing the bones. Kit was a remarkable boy, and his father was 
a remarkable man ; fear never found a lodgment in their 
hearts. It was understood that our army was to recross the 
Potomac, and that the wounded would be left behind. Kit 
had a negro named "Ike." After dark, Ike pressed the 



/X THE CON FEDERATE ARMV. 63 

good old farmer's horse, put his young master on him, got 
behind, and never dismounted until they reached Winchester. 
The suffering was uitense, but Kit never murmured. The 
strange sequel of this story is that Ike went back with the / 
horse, and remained with the Federal army. We captured 
him back at Fredericksburg, and he is living in Madison 
county, Mississippi, now. 



64 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 



CHAPTER IX. 

The Army Goes into Camp at Winchester — Small-pox 
Breaks Out — The March to Fredericksburg — The 
Men's Clothes Freeze on them — The Battle of 
Fredericksburg — The Enemy Capture Barksdale's 
Works, but are Driven Back — The Washington Ar- 
tillery cheer Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade — 
Billy Blake and a Little Dog Frighten the Peo- 
ple in Church. 

The army crossed the river and went into camp at Winches- 
ter. Soon afterward a bad spell of weather came on, and the 
last of September quite a snow fell. We had no blankets, 
and very few clothes. To add to the hardships and horrors 
of the situation, small-pox broke out, and fully one-third of 
the army had it. The Little Confederate and Matt were 
taken at the same time, while Uncle Freeman escaped. The 
soldiers never thought much about the danger of small-pox, 
but the negroes who had it suffered greatly. Matt never re- 
covered from the effects, though he lived twenty years after- 
ward. He was always complaining and suffered to the last 
with rheumatism. We spent a week or so delightfully at 
Winchester, but our dream of happiness was short, and we 
moved to Strasburg, thence via Rapidan Station to Fredericks- 
burg. It began to rain and sleet just before we reached 
Rapidan, where we forded the river and marched nearly all 
night in the cold and sleet. By next morning the weather 
had become bitter cold, and whenever we halted ten min- 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 65 

utes our clothing would freeze on our bodies. We were hur- 
ried every step of the way to Fredericksburg. The command 
of the Army of the Potomac during the three months had 
been transferred to General Pope, then to Meade, then 
back to McClellan, and now we learned that General Burn- 
side was in command. We were marching night and day to 
reach Fredericksburg to prevent his crossing the Rappahan- 
nock. McLaws' division was the first to reach there, about 
ten o'clock at night ; it was still sleeting; and very cold. We 
were not allowed to have fires, lest the enemy might be en- 
abled to estimate our forces, as we were told. We were 
freezing. We lay down on each other, four men at the bot- 
tom, four men across them, then four men on top these. It 
was generally in piles of twelve. After the bottom quartette 
thawed out, they would go on top, and so on. We spent 
two miserable days and nights before the army arrived, then 
we had fires. Rations were issued almost daily at that time, 
but one man could eat at one meal all the rations drawn 
by a mess of six or seven men for a day. We began to 
fortify, and at night the scene was grand. The camp-fires of 
both armies made a beautiful picture, the opposing forces 
being within plain view of each other. On one occasion 
when the Eighteenth Mississippi Regiment was on picket 
duty, the Little Confederate and Jeff Crane were on post to- 
gether, and stood behind trees on the bank of the river. We 
shot at every thing that moved, as did the enemy. If a hat 
was raised, a bullet whizzed at it. While we watched, a negro 
appeared just in front of the Little Confederate ; he seemed 
to have sprung out of the ground. He carried a sack on his 
back, and both Crane and the Little Confederate ordered 



66 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

him to lie down. He said be belonged to the Colonel of 
the Eighth Georgia, and had been out foraging, and why the 
enemy's pickets did not kill him I am unable to conjecture. 
The Little Confederate made him open his bag, in which 
he had a bushel of sweet potatoes. He was only required to 
empty out half of them. Jeff. Crane and his little friend 
went back to camp that night with most of the half bushel 
of raw potatoes in their " craws." 

Several weeks passed at Fredericksburg in getting ready 
to entertain General Burnside when he should cross the 
"beautiful Rappahannock." During that time the soldiers 
of both armies became very friendly. The Confederates 
would send tobacco in little bark boats over to the " Yanks," 
and the latter would send us back coffee and other articles. 
It finally got so that the pickets would not shoot at each 
other. The men became very expert in setting the sails on 
the bark, which they could land at almost the very place they 
selected for the exchange of commodities. It was a strange 
sight to watch the men of opposing armies playing and traf- 
ficking as if there was no war, but they were ready to face 
each at any minute, and fight like lions and tigers if the orders 
were given. Weeks were quietly spent on the beautiful 
river; Barksdale's Mississippi brigade was moved into the 
streets of Fredericksburg, where they remained until the great 
battle. Our artillery was planted on Marye's Heights over- 
looking the whole country. When General Burnside built his 
bridge under cover of darkness, and moved his army over to 
the south side, he began setting the pegs for a great and 
bloody battle, and he got it. 

The battle of Fredericksburg will go down in history, 



f: 



\- 



\J, 



^. 




IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM7'. 67 

crowned with some remarkable features, but of these there 
was nothing more striking than the part Barksdale's brigade 
bore in the conflict. The position this brigade held could 
not be surrendered ; it was necessary to maintain it at all 
hazards ; the safety of our army depending, in a measure, on 
their doing so. It was the key to the situation, the bulwark 
of the army, and it was a high compliment to the Mississippi 
brigade to have such an important duty assigned to it. Gen- 
eral Burnside knew that he must break our line at this point, 
otherwise he would be forced to recross the river. He, 
therefore, concentrated the fire of four hundred cannon on 
Barksdale's brigade, before his infantry made the memorable 
charge. I believe I can say, with absolute confidence, there 
was not a square yard of earth in the city of Fredericksburg 
which was not struck during that awful cannonading. Hun- 
dreds of old soldiers who saw the determination of the Fed- 
eral commander to annihilate Barksdale's brigade looked on 
in wonder. How could the men stand it? It has been dis- 
cussed ever since, and will be a theme as long as there is a 
man living who participated in or witnessed it. The charge of 
Pickett's brigade at Gettysburg was terrible, but it was noth- 
ing to the storm which rained on Barksdale's brigade at Fred- 
ericksburg. Pickett's men were on the move, they were the 
attacking party, and there was the inspiration of General 
Lee's presence. The Mississippians stood at Fredericksburg 
exposed to the greatest artillery fire they had ever known, 
and with hardly a hope that it would cease till the last of the 
gallant band had fallen. Writers tell of Pickett's charge, 
and it " will live in song and story " forever, and it is due to 
those brave and gallant soldiers that it shall so live. A tow- 



68 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

ering monument of finest marble should be reared to com- 
memorate their heroic sacrifices and their sublime devotion 
even unto death. Every name should be inscribed upon it. 
The descendants of those heroes can refer with pride in all 
ages to the heroism their ancestors displayed in that grand 
and terriftic charge. It will be an object lesson for future 
generations, inspiring the youth of every nationality to build 
his life on such a foundation, as will enable him to approach 
the grand heroism of those great "Virginians." But it re- 
quired more courage, more manhood, and more heroism to 
face the situation which Barksdale and his Mississippians 
faced at Fredericksburg than to follow the charge at Gettys- 
burg. After that artillery hell, Barksdale's brigade was moved 
down into the valley, and deployed a skirmish line along the 
river bank. The men marched through the crooked streets 
in column of fours. From a distance it looked like a long 
snake ; there was perfect order and steadiness, and the en- 
tire army was struck with it. Notwithstanding the awful sit- 
uation in which they had been for two days, they moved with 
proud military bearing. As they emerged into the valley, a 
great cheer went up from Marye's Heights, where General 
Lee had stationed the Washington artillery. We have heard 
men say they never saw such remarkable nerve in all their 
lives. Any soldier who witnessed that cannonading, it mat- 
ters not whether he be Federal or Confederate, will tell you 
it was the most terrific during the war, and we believe of any 
war. The Federals crossed during the night. Barksdale's 
brigade was at the foot of the hill to meet them. They 
rushed at our line like droves of wolves. Hundreds were 
killed, but the line preserved its order. It was an awful oc- 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMV. 69 

casion. The position held by Barksdale must be taken. The 
enemy charged us, and fought Hke devils. Theirs was a 
grand command as well as ours. They were "Americans." 
They attempted to climb over our little temporary ditch, 
which was a breast-work in name only, but we clubbed them 
with our guns, and drove them back. They were reinforced 
and re-formed. The Washington artillery poured shell right 
into their ranks. They opened but closed up again. We 
saw them move forward the second time under the fire of the 
batteries, as well as our infantry fire. They reached our 
lines again. It seemed as if the fate of the human race de- 
pended on the conduct of each individual. Every man in 
both armies stood square to the front. Many gallant deeds 
were performed by individuals, almost every man on both 
sides deserved special mention, but there was a circumstance 
that did not at the time seem unusual, which should be men- 
tioned. Company " C" of the Eighteenth regiment was the 
color company. The flag was planted squarely on the bank 
of the ditch, and the enemy directed a deadly fire on it. 
The color bearer was killed, another man grabbed the staff 
and raised it. He, too, was killed, and several others followed 
and were also killed. The enemy was within ten feet of the 
flag, making it almost certain death for any man to raise it. 
A modest fellow whose place was near the center of our com- 
pany — Luke W. Smith — rushed at the colors and raised them 
just as the enemy climbed the bank. The flag had been 
shot in probably a hundred places. A Federal soldier at- 
tempted to take it from him ; but Luke Smith, though slen- 
der, made up his mind to hold on to that staff as long as he 
lived, and his adversary was equally determined. The men 



70 PERSONAL RECOLLECTI ONS, ETC., 

on both sides had all they could attend to, and Luke and 
the Yankee scrambled and fought over the colors. Finally, 
the Yankee tore the fragments of the flag off the staff, leav- 
ing Luke with nothing but the stick. We again drove the 
enemy back, and as they retired Luke broke the staff over 
his antagonist's head, and recovered the flag, but he never 
gave up the piece he held in his hands. 

General Burnside re-crossed the river and resumed his 
position. The Little Confederate remembered the stories 
his father had told him about hardships he endured when a 
boy. He told of how he had to sleep in the covered wagons 
when he was going to Charleston, South Carolina, with his 
mother's cotton. The snow would blow in on his blankets, 
and sometimes cover them while he slept. They seemed 
great hardships, and his father would say: •' I hope you will 
never be called on to endure the like." But at seventeen 
years of age, the little fellow could tell his father stories of 
hardships, dangers, sufferings and trials, he had never dreamed 
of. He wrote home after each battle, and recited the dis- 
tressful news of the death of his friends. He was getting 
terribly tired of the business, but never a murmur escaped 
him. The first battle of Fredricksburg was fought December 
12 and 13, 1862. 

Notwithstanding this terrible and bloody battle, scarcely 
two weeks passed before the army had settled down to a 
normal condition. One would not suppose that in so short a 
time after they had fought with such desperation, and seen so 
many of their friends killed and wounded by their sides, men 
could be cheerful and hopeful. But this was a remarkable 
characteristic of the Confederate soldier. He could throw 



/.V THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 71 

off trouble, or face dangers, as occasion demanded. Merry 
laughter and jests could be heard at every mess fire. The 
men sang and danced at night, and talked of home and 
lounged about during the day. It was impossible to break 
or even check their spirits. They attended divine service on 
Sunday and prayer meeting every other night — that is, they 
were supposed to do so. The chaplain of the regiment, Rev. 
A. E. Hackett, was in every sense a good man. He always 
went into battle with the regiment, and used a gun with tell- 
ing effect. When the fight was over, he was found among 
the wounded, giving them every assistance within human 
power. He was dearly beloved by every man in the Eight- 
eenth regiment. Many of us would go to hear his beautiful 
and touching prayers, because of his great earnestness. Oc- 
casionally the men would go to church in the city. One 
night, soon after the battle, Billy Blake, John Willis, Lieuten- 
ant Wm. McKie, Winter Shipp and the Little Confederate 
went into town to attend church. Arriving there, they found 
the pews all filled, more than half of the congregation being 
soldiers. Lieutenant McKie and Winter Shipp went in and 
found seats, but Billy Blake, John Willis and the Little Con- 
federate remained outside, near the entrance. They amused 
themselves in many ways, as best they could, while they 
waited for their friends to join them after the service was 
over. Finally a little dog came up and looked in the church 
door. He seemed to be hunting for his master. Willis tried 
to drive him away, but he was spunky and would not go. 
Billy Blake, who was always bubbling over with mischief, 
caught the dog and addressing the Little Confederate, said : 
"Little Horse, hold him until I can come back." He was 



72 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

off and back in a few minutes, with an old, battered tin 
bucket. He mashed the top together after putting a few 
pebbles in it, and with a string torn from his shirt, tied it to 
the dog's tail. The dog did not realize what was going on, 
but evidently thought he was being caressed. After it was 
all ready, Billy picked the dog up, carried him off some 
twenty yards, and put him down, supposing he would run 
down the street. They looked for great fun, but when he hit 
the ground he knew something was wrong, and instead of 
going home, he broke for the church. Down the aisle he ran 
with all his speed, the bucket striking the floor, making as 
much noise as a wagon train. He barked at every jump. It 
threw the congregation into great confusion. Men stood on 
their seats, and ladies screamed. The dog reached the 
pulpit. He had not found his master; not even a friendly 
hand. He rushed into the pulpit. It was all done in a 
second. The church was poorly lighted with tallow candles, 
one resting on each side of the Bible. As the dog reached 
the pulpit, the preacher jumped up on the desk, knocking 
off the candles and extinguishing them. The dog started 
down the other aisle, and by this time the greatest excite- 
ment prevailed. Men jumped out of the windows, others 
rushed through the doors. The occasion was so unusual and 
so unexpected, the best soldiers were knocked completely out. 
Tlie three boys saw the dog go up in the pulpit, saw the lights 
go out, and witnessed the confusion, then broke for camp. 
They ran as rapidly as they could, for nearly a mile before 
they halted or said a word. When they pulled up, Billy Blake, 
in the most solemn manner said: " Little Horse, what did you 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 73 

Start that derned dog toward the church for ? " and then fell 
down and rolled over in the road. They laughed and talked 
about it until they heard others approaching, when they put 
out again. They reached camp, and lay down in front of the 
fire on the bare ground, and pretended to be asleep. Directly 
the church goers began to arrive, and the balance of our 
crowd with them. Lieutenant McKie knew, as soon as he 
saw them all hugged up together before the fire, who tied the 
can to the dog, but he never accused the boys. The occur- 
rence was the talk of the camp, as well as of the good 
citizens of Fredericksburg. Next day General Barksdale 
instructed each colonel to investigate the matter fully, 
and if it was found to have been done by a man of his 
brigade, he wanted the scamp well punished. The boys 
were the only persons who seemed entirely ignorant of the 
trouble. 

Uncle Freeman was in the church, and in the mad rush he 
lost his haversack. He always carried it over his shoulder. 
The one he lost he prized greatly. It was a nice one, he 
found on a dead Yankee officer at Sharpsburg. Uncle Free- 
man had said very litle about the affair, and was very cold 
toward "Billy" and "Bud." Finally, Billy asked him if he 
knew who tied the bucket to the dog's tail. He said : " I 
know 'zactly who done it, jis' as good if Ud er seed um, and. 
Mars Billy, you knows who dun it too." Billy assumed a 
most pathetic air, referred to his good intentions in going to 
church, how it grieved him to be accused of so horrible an 
act, and hoped that God would forgive Uncle Freeman for 
his cruel and wicked suspicion against the boys. Billy was 



74 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

so earnest that he finally convinced Uncle Freeman of their 
innocence. The boys were very quiet and good for a few 
days, but were soon out roving over the country for some- 
thing to eat during the day, and making life a burden to their 
friends at night. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 75 



CHAPTER X. 

The Men of both Armies become very Friendly — The 
Little Confederate is appointed First Lieutenant 
IN the C. S. Army, and presents himself to the 
Secretary of War. 

There was no characteristic in the American soldier more 
prominent than his ability to adapt himself to circumstances. 
It was but a short time after the battle of Fredericksburg, 
where the two armies had been arrayed against each other 
with all the ferocity of wolves, and yet the men on both 
sides were perfectly friendly as individuals. "The Yanks" 
sent us newspapers, coffee and other things they could get, 
and we sent them tobacco. We had nothing else they 
wanted. The neighborly feeling was growing, till the officers 
thought it was going too far, and ordered us to stop all com- 
munications, and to shoot at every man we saw. But all the 
bitterness was forgotten, and it was impossible to stop us from 
being friendly toward each other. Oftentimes you would 
hear a Confederate halloo, "Hello, Old Yank! how you 
getting on?" The Yank would answer: "All right Old 
Johnnie, what's the news?" "Say, Old Yank, send me a 
newspaper and some coffee." "i\ll right. Old Johnnie. 
Wait a minute. Say, I 'm going off duty now, I will see you 
again to-morrow — good bye," and other such chats. I have 
seen dozens of old Johnnies, and as many Yanks, kneeling at 
the river's edge, getting their bark boats in position to send 
over. The kindest feeling prevailed, and I venture to assert, 



76 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

though it has been a long time since then, that the war could 
have been settled in ten days if the question had been left to 
the soldiers. The Federal soldier had a profound regard for 
the Southern soldier after the battle of Fredericksburg. It 
was right here that the loftiest sentiment ever suggested to a 
soldier's mind came out. It was in the spring of 1863. "Two 
great armies were encamped on either side of the Rappahan- 
nock river, one dressed in blue and the other in grey. As 
twilight fell, the bands on the Union side began to play 
'The Star Sprangled Banner,' and 'Rally Round the 
Flag.' The challenge was taken up by those on the other 
side and they responded with 'The Bonnie Blue Flag,' and 
'Away Down South in Dixie.' It was borne upon the soul 
of a single soldier in one of those bands to begin a sweeter, 
more tender air, and, slowly as he played it, all the instru- 
ments on the Union side joined in, until finally a great and 
mighty chorus swelled up all along the lines of both armies, 
'Home Sweet Home.' When they had finished there was 
no challenge yonder, for every band upon that farther shore 
had taken up the sweet old air, so attuned to all that is 
holiest and dearest in human nature, and one chorus of the 
two hosts went up to God. When the music had ceased, 
from the boys in grey came a challenge : ' Three cheers for 
Home.' And as they went resounding toward the skies from 
both sides of the river, something upon the soldiers' cheeks 
washed off the stains of powder." Could such a circumstance 
occur in any country in the world except our own? None 
but Americans can understand the feelings of the soldiers of 
those great armies. The men who had faced each other but 
a few weeks ago in one of the bloodiest battles of the world. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 77 

could now be marshaled under one banner on a mere sug- 
gestion. 

On one occasion, the Little Confederate was busy getting his 
bark ready to sail. He was squatting at the river's edge, in- 
stead of standing picket, as he was told to do, when the cor- 
poral of the guard, Lem. Harvey, spoke to him and said: 
"The captain wants you. I will take your post." The 
little fellow reported to his captain, who, in turn, ordered 
him to report to General Barksdale. "What have I done?" 
he asked himself. Arriving at the general's fire, he saluted, 
and said: "General, I was ordered to report to you." He 
probably noticed the boy was nervous, and said: "Little 
Horse, what have you been doing ? I thought you would get 
into trouble. Come along with me." The general and the 
boy walked off together. He was a friend of the boy's 
father, but the little fellow thought his time had come. They 
reached the camp of General Sims' Georgia brigade, and 
halted at the general's fire. General Barksdale said : "Here 
is the ' Little Horse.' " And turning to the boy, asked : "Do 
you know General Sims?" The little fellow thought General 
Sims was a witness against him, so he answered: " No, sir." 
"Why," said the general, "are you not the boy who gave 
me the water when I was hurt at Sharpsburg, and helped me 
off the field?" He could not deny this. " Well," said Gen- 
eral Sims, "I have often thought of you, and it affords me 
much pleasure to say you have been appointed a lieutenant 
in the Confederate States Army, and here is your commis- 
sion ;" at the same time handing an official envelope ad- 
dressed to The Hon. James A. Sedden, Secretary of War, 
Richmond, Va. The boy was .so astounded it was several 



78 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

minutes before he could speak. He took the letter, which 
looked fully as large as a front door. It was the first official 
envelope he had ever seen. Finally he thanked the general, 
who said: "General Barksdale will give you transportation 
to Richmond, and after you have presented yourself to the 
Secretary of War, he will give you permission to go home a 
few days." It seemed like a dream. The little fellow was 
anxious to get away, for fear somebody would tell him it was 
a joke. He went back to his company, and all arrangements 
were made for his departure. He did not have a dollar, but 
Captain Frank Cassell gave him $150 to take to his brother, 
who lived at Canton, Miss. It was Wednesday morning that 
Uncle Freeman, Matt., and the "Little Soldier" took the 
train for Richmond. They arrived about five in the after- 
noon, and went to the Spottswood Hotel, which was thought 
to be the best, as well as the most expensive, hotel in Rich- 
mond. The boy and his two negroes marched in. They 
stood and looked. They had never seen such a grand place 
before. In a few moments, a man approached the trio, and, 
pointing to the door, said: "Get out of here." The Little 
Confederate had long yellow hair, badly tangled and matted. 
He had the rim of a hat, no top or brim to it, simply a band; 
the waist of an old coat (the skirt had been cut off to patch 
the sleeves, and for other uses) ; a pair of old Yankee pants, 
the left leg split from the knee down, and tied together with 
willow bark. You could see his mangy skin, and, what was 
worse than all, he was full of "gray backs." Ben Muse had 
given him the legs of a pair of boots, which he had tied to- 
gether at both ends and cut a hole in the middle ; these were 
his shoes — he had no socks. No wonder the hotel man or- 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM!'. 79 

dered him out. They stood in the street a short time, but it 
was very cold, and Matt, went to find a place for shelter. 
Very soon he returned, and they went down into the kitchen 
of the hotel, where they ate the scraps from the table and 
went to sleep on the stone floor. Next morning, the good 
old negro cook gave them breakfast, and the little fellow and 
his negroes, whom he loved more than himself, started for 
the capitol. They waited some time before the offices were 
open, after which they looked about to find Mr. Sedden. 
Presently Uncle Freeman, who could read, noticed a sign on 
a door, "Office of Secretary of War." The little soldier 
knocked. A guard sat inside, with a gun across his lap. 
He asked abruptly: "What do you want?'' " I want to see 
the Secretary of War. I have a letter for him. ' "Give it 
to me; I vvill send it in," said the guard." " No; I was told 
to give it to him myself." This seemed to make the guard 
mad, and he said : " Get away from here, you ragged scamp," 
and closed the door. Uncle Freeman and Matt, were furious. 
Uncle Freeman said: "He better not let marster hear him 
say that. Called my young marster a ragged scamp! I like 
to know how many niggers he got. I bet marster 's got more 
niggers and mules and oxen than he got in his whole neigh- 
borhood. I know he is. Called my marster ragged ! I 
don't care if he is ragged, he shan't call him ragged. I 
gwine to tell marster, if God spares me." While Uncle 
Freeman talked. Matt, was getting hot. If the little fellow 
had said the word, Matt, would have smashed the door 
down. They went back from the War Department badly 
discouraged. Passing along the street, they saw the "Mis- 
sissippi Supply Depot." Dr. W. W. Devine, a friend of the 



80 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC. 

boy, was in charge, and, after listening to the boy's story, 
said: "You come here about ten o'clock to-morrow, and I 
will go with you." The day was spent in the kitchen of the 
Spottswood. 

Promptly at ten o'clock Friday, the little soldier and his 
two negroes were waiting the doctor's pleasure. Soon he was 
ready, and they proceeded to the capitol. The little fellow 
knocked at the door where the same guard was on duty. 
"Are you here again?" he asked. "Yes," answered Dr. 
Devine, "and he is going in, too." The guard moved his 
chair. Dr. Devine passed into an adjoining room where he 
introduced the Little Confederate ; Uncle Freeman and Matt 
standing close behind. Mr. Sedden was dressed in dark 
clothes ; his spectacles were tied back of his head, the rim 
resting on his nose. He resembled D. H. Hill, and did not 
seem to need the glasses, for he looked over them. He 
opened the large envelope, and questioned the boy about 
where he lived, his father's name and address. The secre- 
tary and Dr. Devine passed into another room, and when 
they returned, he said, " Have you no better clothing than 
those you have on?" "No, sir," answered the boy. 
"Well," said Mr. Sedden, " you go with these gentlemen" 
(referring to Dr. Devine and a man from his office) "and 
they will try to get you a better suit. After you do so, come 
back to see me; by that time I will have your papers ready." 
As they left the room, Mr. Sedden said, " Have his hair cut 
also." There is no doubt that he was about as " onery " 
looking a chap as ever entered the Confederate capitol. 
He might have had "cockle-burs" in his hair, but he 
did n't, and that was the only thing wanting to complete the 




^'he Little Confederate and his Niggers. 

As they appeared before the Secretary of War. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM 7'. 81 

awkwardness of his appearance. Nor was he an exception. 
The army for the past five months had been very actively 
engaged, and nothing in the way of clothing could reach 
the men. 

Our party passed several streets, finally went into a cloth- 
ing store, where tailors were busy making uniforms. The 
gentleman from Mr. Sedden's office selected a suit of under- 
wear, shoes abd socks, and a suit of clothes. He had them 
wrapped up in a bundle and left the store. Soon they passed 
down into a cellar; it was a barber-shop and bath-room. 
The gentleman said to the negro attendant, " Get a bar of 
good soap, and give this young man a thorough cleaning," 
then turning to the barber, said, "You cut his hair." He 
left the bundle of clothes and said to the boy, "Throw your 
old ones away and put the new ones on." After the boy had 
stripped, the negro walked in with a bar of home-made lye 
soap; one side of it had the coarse salt sticking out. He 
evidently thought it was a case which needed heroic treat- 
ment. The boy had stood insults from the clerk in the hotel, 
and from the guard at the door of the Secretary of War's 
office, but when he told that nigger not to rub him so hard with 
that old rough soap, he meant it. It required Uncle Free- 
man and Matt, also the barber, to pull the boy loose from 
that nigger. He yelled like a goat. Uncle Freeman had to 
finish the job. After leaving the barber-shop, the three 
promenaded the streets till night came on, when they went 
back to the Spotswood. Uncle Freeman and Matt were very 
proud of their young "marster" now, and admired him ex- 
travagantly. Uncle Freeman said, "Wonder what that 
guard up yonder to the White House gwine to say now." 



82 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

Reaching the hotel, a man said, " Come in. Will you regis- 
ter ? " "Will I do what ! What did you say to me ?" asked 
the little soldier. "Walk up to the counter and register," 
he answered. The little fellow never heard the expression 
before. While he had stopped at hotels, it was always with 
his father and mother, and he had no idea what register 
meant. He consulted Uncle Freeman and Matt. Uncle 
Freeman said, "Don't you do it! Don't you do it." So the 
boy walked up to the man and said, "I won't do it, sir; I 
never did such a thing in my life. I do n't drink nor play 
cards either." The man laughed and said, "That is not 
what I meant. Come up here and write your name, so I can 
give you a room." The following day was Saturday. When 
the little soldier rapped at the office door of the Secretary 
of War, the same guard opened it, but he opened it wide, 
and was very courteous. Reaching Mr. Sedden's presence, 
he saluted and said, "Mr. Sedden, I have returned for the 
papers." " What papers; I do not think I know you." The 
boy explained, but Mr. Sedden replied, " Do not try to de- 
ceive me ; the young man who brought these papers looked 
very differently from you." The secretary teased the boy for 
some minutes, then addressing him as " lieutenant," gave 
him his commission, dated April the 9th, 1863, together with 
transportation for himself and negroes to Canton, Mississippi. 
He also gave him orders to report to Lieutenant-General 
Pemberton at Vicksburg, and a leave of absence for thirty 
days to visit his " dear mother and father." 

The whole affair seemed so much like Jack and his bean- 
stalk that the little fellow scarcely knew whether it was a 
reality or not. He did not thank Mr. Sedden for the 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM): 83 

clothes, it did not occur to him until after the train left Rich- 
mond, but some weeks after he reached home, his father re- 
ceived a letter from General Barksdale inclosing the bills. 
The general had requested Mr. Sedden to fit the young 
"lieutenant" out. In future we will refer to the Little Con- 
federate as "Lieutenant Bleecker." 



84 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 



CHAPTER XI. 

The Little Confederate Leaves the Army of North- 
ern Virginia, and Spends a Few Weeks at Home. 

Lieutenant Bleecker, before leaving Richmond, spent a day 
at the hospitals, where several of his friends had been taken 
after the battle of Fredericksburg. A gallant young fellow, 
from Madison county, David Saddler, was a member of the 
Twenty-first Mississippi Regiment, Barksdale's brigade. At 
Fredericksburg he had one of his feet shot off by a can- 
non ball. A friend offered to take him back where the sur- 
geons could give him attention, but Dave said: "No, not 
now ; but after you have driven them back across the river, 
come and help me." The friend was James L. Finley, a 
friend also of Lieutenant Bleecker. In less than ten minutes, 
Jim Finley had his right arm shot off above the elbow, 
and as he was leaving the field passed the spot where he had 
left Dave Saddler, and found to his great horror that his 
other foot had been shot off, and that he was bleeding to 
death. Be it ever said to the praise of Jim Finley, that he for- 
got his own sufferings, and hurried back to report the fact to 
the colonel, exposing himself to a terrific fire in doing so. A 
detail was sent, which carried both Saddler and Finley to the 
field hospital. These two boys were in the hospital at Rich- 
mond when Lieutenant Bleecker called. They were all warm 
friends, and enjoyed being together. Mrs. Owens, a devoted 
sister of Dave Saddler, went from Madison county to nurse 
him, and it was largely due to her tender care that those boys 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM1\ 85 

survived. They are both hving to-day, David Saddler at 
Corinth, Miss., and Jim Finley is the Rev. Dr. James L. Fin- 
ley, a Baptist minister of much prominence. These boys lay 
on their cots convalescing. A minister approached Dave Sad- 
dler, and offering him a nice pair of yarn socks, said : "Accept 
these, I wish the dear woman who knit them could present 
them to you in person." Dave replied : "Thank you, very 
kindly, but I have decided I will never wear another pair of 
socks while I live." The preacher protested, and insisted, 
but Dave could not be pursuaded to take them. Finally the 
preacher met Mrs. Owens, and told her how foolish her 
brother had acted. "Why," exclaimed Mrs. Owens, "both 
of his feet have been shot off!" 

The official records of the United States, that were made 
up from the reports of both armies, which are regarded as 
nearly correct as any thing of the kind can be, show there 
were enlisted during the entire war on the Confederate side a 
little less than six hundred thousand men. This includes 
teamsters, nurses, provost-guards, and every man engaged. 
The greatest number engaged in service at any time was three 
hundred and seventeen thousand men. The same records 
show that there were enlisted in the Federal army during the 
same time two million eight hundred and seventy-two thou- 
sand men, or over two million men more than the Confed- 
erates had. (General Lee's force was reduced by death and 
other causes to eight thousand men for duty. He surren- 
dered that number besides five thousand disabled men to Gen- 
eral Grant at Appomattox. General Grant's army, to which 
General Lee surrendered, numbered one hundred and eighty- 
five thousand men. Those eight thousand men were all heroes 



86 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

like Dave Saddler and Jim Finley. There were numbers of 
men with whom Lieutenant Bleecker parted on leaving the 
Army of Northern Virginia, that he never saw afterward. 
Their bones are bleaching in the valleys, on the mountains 
and hills of Virginia. Those men were martyrs to a princi- 
ple and human rights, and they left to posterity honored 
names and unblemished reputations. They established for 
the world a standard of manhood never before equaled, and 
one which will not be excelled. The State of Mississippi 
would honor herself by establishing and preserving an im- 
perishable memorial for her sons who were among those 
martyrs. Each individual deserves it. They gave their lives 
for the state, and the state should remember their sufferings, 
their devotion, and their heroic sacrifices. The present 
generation will never appreciate their heroism, but they will 
be remembered in the far-distant future. 

In bidding goodbye to the great Army of Northern 
Virginia, referring particularly to Barksdale's brigade, we 
drop a tear to the memory of heroic General William Barks- 
dale, brave, patriotic and kind. He was a statesman, and a 
hero. We saw him in battle, on the march, and in camp. 
He felt a personal interest in every man in his brigade ; he 
was proud of his men, and never doubted them. He be- 
lieved they would follow him, nor was he mistaken. He fell 
with his face to the foe. To the brave and soldierly Colonel 
Thomas Griffin, of the Eighteenth Mississippi; a model soldier, 
and the grandest colonel in the army. And Colonel John C. 
Fizer, of the Seventeenth ; Major James Campbell of the Eight- 
eenth ; and all the field officers of that incomparable brigade. 
We knew Colonel Fizer when he was the adjutant of his regi- 



IN THE CONFEDERATE AJiMT. 87 

ment, and we knew him when the was the colonel. He filled to 
a high degree the most exalted idea of a dashing cavalier, and 
proud as a knight of the crusades. We have seen him at the 
head of his regiment, on that light bay, before reaching any 
position he was ordered to take, dash ahead and reconnoiter, 
then gallop back. His face would be radiant. He was 
always looking out for his men. He was the same courtly, 
elegant gentleman under fire that he was in camp, or on the 
march. Too much could not be said of Major Campbell, as 
cool and courageous as Hill, and as watchful as Stuart ; com- 
paratively a boy, he filled his position with great credit. He 
commanded the Eighteenth regiment at the battle of Sharps- 
burg, and was seriously wounded within a iew feet of the 
enemy's lines. He afterward died on the field of battle. A 
more patriotic soul never took its flight to the unknown 
world. This story would fill a volume, if all the virtues of 
the gallant men of Barksdale's brigade were chronicled in it. 
The writer wishes he had the capacity to do them full justice, 
but the future must and will recognize their unquestionable 
right to rank as brave, true and great men. There were, of 
course, some men who filled the measure to overflowing. 
Such were Captain W. G. Johnson, Lieutenant Wm. McKie, 
Lieutenant George Covert, Sam Finley, James Burnes, Ed. 
Drenning, Peter Whalen, Bateman Brown, Peyton Wales, 
W. L. McKee, John Sneed, and others, all of Company " C,"' 
Eighteenth Mississippi regiment. These men never shirked 
duty, never straggled, missed a march or a battle. They 
were an inspiration to the other men. We have been ex- 
hausted and felt that we could not go another hundred yards, 
but when we saw the earnest faces of those men, we found 



88 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

new life and energy. Sam Finley, Peyton Wales and Jim 
Burns were ideal soldiers; always ready for duty, without 
a complaint at any time. They were christian soldiers of 
the grandest type. They passed through the entire war, 
until within a few weeks of its close, and were killed 
at Berryville, Virginia, at the same time, and side by 
side, as they had stood and fought for four long years. 
Providence seemed unwilling to separate them. W. L. 
McKee was a few months younger than Lieutenant Bleecker, 
and the only boy in the brigade who was. '• Billy," as he 
was farriiliarly called by all the division, was as gallant a little 
"Reb" as ever mustered for duty. General Barksdale 
selected him from all the brigade, as his courier. His con- 
duct was an honor to his people. "Billy" is still living, but 
has moved to Texas. Captain W. G. Johnson now lives at 
Orlando, Florida; Lieutenant George Covert at Meridian, 
Mississippi ; Peter Whalen in Madison county, Mississippi ; 
and Ed. Drenning in Yazoo City, Mississippi ; but the others 
-I have named were killed in battle. 




General James R. Chalmers. 



PART II 



CHAPTER XII. 

Lieutenant Bleecker Reports to General James R. 
Chalmers for Duty, and is Assigned to the Com- 
mand OF an Artillery Section. 

Lieutenant Bleecker and his faithful hegroes reached Can- 
ton, Miss., their home, about the latter part of April, 1863, 
having been detained at several places en route on account 
of washouts and other causes. The facilities for transporta- 
tion were as poor at that time as they could well be. There 
was great rejoicing at Bleecker's home. The dear mother, 
who prayed every day for the safety of her boy, felt that her 
prayer had been granted. Every thing was done for his 
comfort and happiness. Entertainments were arranged for 
his pleasure, to which all the friends of the neighborhood 
were invited, and all were glad to see the little fellow safely 
at home. Old people, the friends and neighbors of his pa- 
rents, would listen to the stories he told with great interest. 
They felt that the boy had passed through a wonderful pe- 
riod, and they longed to hear all he had to say. They would 
inquire anxiously after their sons and brothers whom he left 
in Virginia. His dear mother clung to him as if she could 

(89) 



90 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

never let him go again ; but she enjoyed the happiness of the 
present, and felt proud that her boy had won the compli- 
ments and promotion he had received. The sisters and little 
brothers enjoyed the presence of their soldier brother, but 
after awhile began to think mother was partial to "Bud." 
We can see her heavenly face now, when she would place 
her arms around his neck and caress him with sweet tender- 
ness. One of the most delightful months of his life was 
spent at this time. Toward the middle of May, he saw his 
time was about up, and he must report to General Pember- 
ton. Arriving at Vicksburg, he found every thing readv for 
an attack from the Federal fleet and army. He remained 
about the general's headquarters for several days waiting as- 
signment, and finally, obtaining an interview, he asked to be 
assigned to General J. R. Chalmers, who had command of 
the cavalry in North Mississippi. The request was graciously 
granted, and he left Vicksburg just in time to escape the 
siege. He again returned home, for his horses and negroes, 
where he spent a few days before reporting to General Chal- 
mers. When he decided on the day he would go, his father 
said he must take two other negroes, Jim and Burton, in 
place of Uncle Freeman and Matt. He felt that the latter 
had suffered hardships enough. He could not furnish a sub- 
stitute for his son, but he could relieve the good old negroes 
with substitutes. 

Jim and Burton were delighted, and made promises that 
they would take care of "young marster " and bring him 
back home. When the day arrived. Lieutenant Bleecker, 
dressed in a new uniform, with a beautiful sword and belt, 
mounted on the handsomest little thoroughbred sorrel we 



IX THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 91 

ever saw, stood in the front yard to bid the dear ones good- 
bye again. Jim and Burton were also mounted on good 
horses, and were in the greatest state of excitement, talking 
to the negroes, about a hundred or more, who had gathered 
around to say "good-bye." Jim's mother was Lieutenant 
Bleecker's "black mammy." She loved her white child de- 
votedly, even more than she did her own. She clung to his 
feet, crying and praying for his safety and early return. It 
was a remarkable scene, and the most trying one that 
Bleecker was ever called on to go through. His dear 
mother delayed the departure from moment to moment, un- 
able to give up her boy. The children and friends who were 
there to say "good-bye," crying and yelling, his old "black 
mammy" crying and holding on to him; while the old family 
negroes were standing around, anxious to see the last of him. 
He had faced the enemy's guns, had seen friends killed or 
wounded by his side, but he never was tried so severely as 
now. Finally the start was made. He realized that he must 
move quickly, or his strength of will might fail. Giving the 
little sorrel a pressure of the knee, he bounded off like a 
deer, followed by Jim and Burton, also well mounted. The 
negroes ran down to the "big gate," hallooing "Good-bye, 
good-bye." The lieutenant rode in advance of his negroes, 
unwilling to engage in conversation, which he knew Jim and 
Burton would want to do. Soon they arrived at the depot 
and boarded the train for Grenada. Jim and Burton rode in 
the car with the horses and were happy, while their young 
master lived over and over, and over again, the scenes of the 
past month. He looked out of the car window ; he could 
not trust himself to talk, nor did he want the current of his 



92 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

thoughts disturbed. After a night spent at Grenada, he took 
the train for Panola, Miss., a small town on the Tallahatchie 
river. Arriving there together with his negroes, he reported 
to General Chalmers, who read the order, and received him 
with the greatest kindness; so much so, that the lieutenant 
felt at home at once. He realized that he was in the pres- 
ence of an accomplished gentleman, who would appreciate 
any efforts he made to do his duty. After the introduction 
to the members of his staff, the general said: "Lieutenant, 
we are expecting the enemy to make an attempt to cross the 
river, either here or at some point near. I want you to take 
charge of the two guns just yonder." Lieutenant Bleecker 
said: "General, I have had no experience in artillery, 
and " — But the general mounted his horse at that moment, 
and was off at a gallop before the sentence was finished, say- 
ing to Captain Goodman, his adjutant-general : " Issue an or- 
der placing him in command of the section." So that within 
thirty minutes after reporting for duty, Bleecker was in com- 
mand of a section of artillery, and with a good prospect of 
an engagement. He had expected, when he left the infantry 
service, that he would see less fighting, but this would indi- 
cate he might find work in his cavalry experience, and so 
subsequent events proved. Very it^^ weeks passed during 
the next two years when there was no fighting. The occa- 
sion, however, was a blessing, because it took his thoughts 
away from home. Very soon General Chalmers, on his 
rounds, drew up at the lieutenant's position, and accosted 
him most pleas,antly, saying: "Keep your eye open, lieuten- 
ant, and make it warm for them when they come." The 
lieutenant was in love with his general from that moment. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 93 

Toward evening, our scouts reported that the enemy had re- 
tured to Memphis. The Ueutenant felt greatly relieved, and 
at once sought the general, to whom he explained his ig- 
norance of artillery. When he reported, he wore a fatigue 
jacket trimmed in red, which led the general to suppose he 
was an artilleryman. All hands laughed at the circumstance. 
The general said: "The officer who should command the 
section is sick, and the assignment is temporary." In a few 
days, the lieutenant was notified that he would do duty as a 
member of the general's staff in future. This was pleasant 
news and greatly appreciated, and was quickly communicated 
to his dear mother, whom he knew would be much pleased to 
hear it. 

The general's staff at that time consisted of Captain W. A. 
Goodman, A. A. G.; Major Andrew G. Mills, Acting Asst. 
Inspector-Genl.; Lieutenant George T. Banks, A. D. C.; 
Major Brodie S. Crump, Commissary; Captain A. D. Bright, 
A. A. A. G.; Captain Samuel O'Neil, Quartermaster; Colonel 
Casey Young, A. D. C; and Lieutenant Julius A. Taylor, A. 
D. C. Captain W. H. Carroll commanded the escort com- 
pany, with C. T. Smith and Clayton R. Jones as his lieuten- 
ants. This was indeed a happy and congenial circle, and 
Lieutenant Bleecker soon became attached to all of them. 
General Chalmers had formerly commanded a brigade in 
Bragg's army, which command distinguished itself at Shiloh, 
at Murfreesboro, at Perryville, and other places. The gen- 
eral had but recently been sent to collect all the troops in 
North Mississippi, and defend the prairie country from de- 
struction by the Federals. This section supplied nearly all 
our corn. Chalmers' force at this time was poorly equipped, 



94 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

and only a small portion organized, but the general began 
active steps to get his organization perfected, and the men 
well drilled. 



(The following is copied from Hancock's History of the 
Second Tennessee Cavalry) : 

"brigadier-general JAMES RONALD CHALMERS. 

"J. R. Chalmers, son of the Hon. Judge Joseph W. Chal- 
mers (who was in the United States Senate under Polk's ad- 
ministration), was born in Halifax county, Va., on the i ith of 
January, 1831. He is the oldest and only survivor of seven 
children — four sons and three daughters. In 1834 or 1835 
he removed with his father to Jackson, Tenn., and thence to 
Holly-Springs, Marshall county. Miss., in 1839, where he 
was sent to school and prepared for college, which he entered 
at Columbia, S. C, in September, 1848, where he graduated 
in December, 1851, taking the second honor in a class of 
about fifteen. Returning to Holly-Springs, he at once en- 
tered upon the study of law in the office of Barton & Chal- 
mers, the firm being composed of his father, and the great 
and gifted Roger Barton. In 1852 he was a delegate to the 
Democratic Convention which nominated Franklin Pierce for 
President. The next year he began to practice law at Holly- 
Springs, and in 1857 he was elected district attorney of the 
Seventh Judicial District, over several worthy and popular 
competitors. He was soon recognized as one of the ablest 
prosecuting attorneys in the state, and greatly increased and 
strengthened his popularity. He was a delegate from De 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 95 

Soto county to the Mississippi State Convention, which passed 
the ordinance of secession, in January, 1861, and chairman 
of the Mihtary Committee in that body. 

"The subject of this sketch was elected colonel of the 
Ninth Mississippi Regiment of infantry, which was the first 
that entered the Confederate service from that state. His 
first engagement was a successful attack upon Fort Pickens, 
on Santa Rosa Island, south of Pensacola, Fla. 

"Chalmers was appointed brigadier-general on the 13th 
of February, 1862, and was in command of the forces that 
drove Sherman and his gun-boats back from Eastport, Miss., 
on March the 12th, and thus saved Bear Creek Bridge from 
destruction, and the Memphis and Charleston Railroad from 
falling into the hands of the enemy. At the battle of Shiloh 
he commanded the extreme right brigade, and made the last 
charge on Sunday that was made by the Confederates on that 
eventful day. Balls passed through his clothing, and his 
horse was shot from under him on Monday. When the Con- 
federate army fell back to Tupelo, Bragg assigned Chalmers 
to a cavalry command for a short time, but, having been re- 
called to take charge of his infantry brigade, he went with 
Bragg on his Kentucky campaign. The former made an 
unsuccessful attack upon Mumfordville, and was compli- 
mented by the latter for what he did. At the battle of Mur- 
freesboro. General Chambers was severely wounded, and be- 
fore he had fully recovered from the effect of his wound, he 
was assigned by Bragg to the command of the cavalry in 
North-western Mississippi, at the special recjuest of the gov- 
ernor of that state — Pettus. 



96 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

"General Chalmers now went to work in his new field and 
organized the ' squads ' and companies into regiments, which 
afterward, under his command, formed a prominent part in 
that terrible column that enabled Forrest to perform his won- 
drous feats and made his name immortal, causing him to go 
down the ages as the ' Wizard of the Saddle.' 

"General Chalmers commanded the first division of For- 
rest's cavalry from January, 1864, to the close of the war, as 
set forth in the following pages of this work, to which I refer 
the reader for the balance of the military career of this gal- 
lant and noble officer. He accepted the terms of surrender 
in good faith, and returned to his home in North Missis- 
sippi, where he again began the practice of his profession — 
the law. 

" In 1872, he was on the electoral ticket in Mississippi for 
Horace Greeley; in 1875, he was elected to the state senate; 
and in 1876, he was elected to Congress from what is known 
as the 'Shoe-string District,' and again in 1878 without op- 
position. In 1880, he was returned as elected, but was un- 
seated in a contest by John R. Lynch, the Republican can- 
didate. General Chalmers then removed from Vicksburg to 
Sardis, Miss., and in 1882, became an independent Demo- 
cratic candidate for Congress against V. H. Manning, the 
regular Democratic nominee, and after a close, exciting can- 
vass, was elected. 

"As a speaker, General Chalmers is fluent, bold, pointed, 
and fearless. In his style, he draws occasionally upon a 
cultivated and exuberant fancy, but indulges more frequently 
in pointed and racy anecdote. As a friend, he is sincere, 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM!'. 97 

true, and devoted; as an enemy, fearless and inflexible; but 
at all times just and generous, as ready to atone for a wrong, 
when he is convinced that he has committed one, as he is, 
upon the other hand, steadfast and immovable when satisfied 
that he is right." 



98 PERSONAL RECOLLECTION'S, ETC., 



CHAPTER XIII. 

General Chalmers organizes his Forces — The Fight at 

COLDWATER RiVER — GaLLANT CONDUCT OF COLONEL 

McCulloch — Captain Carroll gives McCulloch a 
Dining — Gallant Conduct of Major Grant Wilson 
of the Federal Army. 

The weather had been very favorable for the past month. 
Every company was drilled daily, and battalion drill twice a 
week was the order. With the exception of the Second Mis- 
souri, Willis' Texas Battalion, the Second Arkansas, and two 
companies ofthe Seventh Tennessee, the troops were "green," 
composed mostly of boys under and men over military age. 
The boys and their horses soon acquired most of the im- 
portant movements, but the old men knew no more about 
drill at the end of two months than at the beginning. Neither 
did their horses. It was really amusing to watch them. The 
old men could not distinguish between column right and right 
forward fours right. They had their horses equally confused. 
You could depend upon it with almost absolute certainty, 
when marching in line, and the command fours right was 
given, half of them would wheel to the left. The general, 
however, persevered with wonderful patience, and, by sand- 
wiching the boys and old men, succeeded in directing the 
new commands very well. Before, however, the organization 
was complete. General Mower, with a division of infantry, 
cavalry, and artillery, was arranging to leave Memphis. 
General Chalmers was advised of his movement through 



TN THE CONFEDERA TE ARMY. 99 

Henderson's scouts, and ordered Colonel Bob McCulloch, 
of the Second Missouri, with his own regiment, Willis' Texas 
Battalion, two small pieces of artillery, and the two com- 
panies of the Seventh Tennessee, to move toward Memphis 
and impede the advance of Mower as best he could. 

Colonel McCulloch moved from Panola direct to Como, 
and found that the Federals in large numbers were approach- 
ing Coldwater river. McCulloch determined to give Mower 
all the trouble possible while crossing the little river. He 
made no halt at Como, but hurried on to meet the enemy. 
The balance of our command was distributed along the Tal- 
lahatchie river, at Wyatt, Abbeville, and Rocky Ford, guard- 
ing the crossings. General Chalmers sent couriers with or- 
ders to those commands to cross the river at once and meet 
him at Como. The general, his staff, and escort company 
reached Como about noon, where he awaited the arrival of 
the troops, numbering about one thousand men all told. 
McCulloch had under his command about seven hundred 
men ; total, seventeen hundred. Colonel Slemons, with the 
Second Arkansas, was the first to reach Como. The general 
moved at once with his command to the support of McCul- 
loch. The Federals about the same time began to cross 
Coldwater river under cover of artillery fire. McCulloch 
came in view just as the first boat reached the south bank, 
and, though exposed to a heavy fire from artillery, dashed 
recklessly at them with the Second Missouri and Willis' Texas 
Battalion, capturing the boat and all on it. This charge as- 
tonished the enemy, but he soon recovered. Then a furious 
fight began across the river. General Mower made several 
other attempts to cross, but we defeated him in each instance. 



lUO PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

His plans, however, had been well conceived. At the time 
he left Memphis with his division, via Hernando, he ordered 
General Hatch, with his brigade of cavalry and four pieces 
of artillery, to move from Collierville to cut off General 
Chalmers, whom he concluded would advance from Panola 
to meet him. The promptness and rapidity of McCuUoch's 
movement staggered him, and caused him to pause and con- 
sider. He had not supposed he would meet any resistance 
farther north than Sardis. The two regiments from Abbe- 
ville and Wyatt reached us about nine p. m., but we heard 
nothing from Major Alex. Chalmers, who, with four compa- 
nies, had been guarding the crossing at Rocky Ford. Soon 
after going into camp, scouts reported that a force of two 
thousand cavarly, under General Hatch, was encamped six 
miles to the east of us. These troops had heard the cannon- 
ading in the evening, and expected to reach our rear early 
the following morning. At daylight we were in the saddle. 
General Hatch had a large force, much better equipped, al- 
most in our rear, and General Mower a division in our front. 
Our future status was exceedingly uncertain, but the troops 
depended on General Chalmers, and he brought them around 
safely. When the command had mounted, the general 
moved south toward Como until we reached a woods. Pass- 
ing through to the east, we came into the road by which 
Hatch was moving just as his column had passed by, so that 
instead of Hatch gaining our rear we were in his, and ready 
to give him a brush. The men felt better and the troops 
were anxious to try conclusions. Immediately Major Chal- 
mers, with his battalion, came in sight, and we were equally 
glad to see each other. He explained to the general that 



TN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 101 

soon after leaving Rocky Ford he met Hatch, who cut him 
off from a direct route to Como, and he decided to dog his 
rear rather than incur the delay of a long ride to the south. 
He captured a number of men and horses. General Chal- 
mers determined to attack Hatch, and ordered Major Chal- 
mers to press him, which he did with considerable success, 
capturing a large number of negroes, mules, and cattle, 
which Hatch had taken from the people along his line of 
march. Hatch would make no fight, but retreated to the 
Memphis and Charleston Railroad. Mower returned to 
Memphis via Hernando. Reaching the latter, they set fire 
to every vacant house and all public buildings in the town. 
The place was nearly destroyed. Hernando was General 
Chalmers' home, and his wife was then living there. Mrs. 
Chalmers at that time was in ill-health, and being notified 
that her house would be fired, she sent for the officer who 
gave the information, and apprised him of her helpless condi- 
tion. He stated he had no discretion in the matter ; she must 
get out. She asked if there was an officer near who had au- 
thority, but received no satisfactory reply. Her faithful ne- 
gro servant determined to save the house if possible, and 
went out begging the Federal officers wherever she found 
them to spare her mistress the house. Finally, Major Grant 
Wilson heard her pleadings, rode to the house, and drove 
every rascal away. He ordered a guard to protect the prop- 
erty, and tendered his services to Mrs. Chalmers in any ca- 
pacity desired. Major Wilson, of course, won the undying 
gratitude and respect of Mrs. Chalmers, and placed the gen- 
eral under an obligation which he can never fully repay. 
General Chalmers wrote him a letter thanking him for his 



102 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

consideration, and received a reply stating that there was no 
obhgation — he was not in the service to burn houses and 
make war on helpless women. 

Major Wilson afterward became General Wilson. During 
one of General Chalmers' terms in Congress he had the 
pleasure of meeting him again, when a very warm friendship 
was formed, and continues to this day. General Wilson is 
now an Episcopal clergyman. 

This little fight at Coldwater was a brilliant affair. Gen- 
eral Chalmers, with about twelve hundred men and two 
pieces of inferior artillery, defeated a well-equipped army of 
not less than five thousand men and twelve pieces of artil- 
lery, forcing them back to Memphis. Two companies were 
sent to follow the enemy and keep posted on his movements. 
General Chalmers in a few days went into camp at Como 
with the entire force. This was about the last of July, 
1863. 

Colonel Monroe Wallace, with a large number of his ne- 
groes, horses, mules, etc., had left his beautiful home near 
Como to seek a place of safety in Georgia or in South Car- 
olina, his native state. He had personally returned to look 
after his affairs, and when we went into camp at Como he in-, 
vited General Chalmers to occupy his house as his head- 
quarters. It was a lovely home, beautifully furnished, the 
beds supplied with snowy linen sheets and .soft lamb's wool 
blankets, big, fat, feather pillows and bolsters, the smoke 
house was well stocked with home cured meat, and a large 
drove of fine fat turkeys roamed the lot. All of these the 
colonel told us to enjoy. There was no string to the in- 
vitation. Colonel Wallace belonged to that class of South- 



AV THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 108 

ern gentlemen who dispensed true hospitality. His manner 
was courtly, and his attentions were pleasing without being 
effusive. He had been educated in the school of polite and 
cultivated society. If it was necessary to give up his carriage 
horses, he would surrender them gracefully, and, to all ap- 
pearances, willingly. He was a typical Southerner. He 
bade us good-bye, and left his old cook, "Aunt Jenny," and 
his body servant, " Uncle Steve," with instructions to do the 
best they could for us. We had turkey and lye hominy, ham 
and fat biscuits, sweet potatoes and butter. We had turkey 
hash every morning, though there was not a scrap of turkej' 
left from dinner. Several days were passed like a dream. 
The party embraced the general and his entire staff, hereto- 
fore named, and Captain W. H. Carroll, commanding the 
escort. 

Frequent discussions were had about the gallant little fight 
at Coldwater. Captain Carroll said General Chalmers had a 
habit of going into places where it was terribly hot, and, fur- 
thermore, seemed never to be entirely satisfied unless his 
(Carroll's) company was in the hottest places on the line. 
He argued with great earnestness and said he thought an 
escort company should be held more as a reserve. General 
Chalmers entered into our discussions on perfect equality with 
the others, and was without doubt among the most courteous 
as well as the most companionable of men. He wanted 
nothing which he could not divide with his staff, and he treated 
them as his equals in every particular. Carroll contended 
that the charge on the enemy at Coldwater, made by Colonel 
McCuUoch, with the Second Missouri, was the most gal- 
lant he ever saw, and he proposed to emphasize his opinion 



104 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

by inviting Colonel McCuUoch to a dining at our house. 
He rode over to McCuUoch's headquarters, and extended the 
invitation. The day was set, and "Aunt Jenny" and 
" Uncle Steve " were told of the importance of having the 
dinner up to the standard. After "Aunt Jenny" signified 
her understanding, Carroll discussed the occasion with the 
general and members of the staff, except Captain Bright and 
Lieutenant Bleecker, whom he missed, probably on account 
of an oversight. He referred to it as a banquet, worthy to 
be compared to the feasts which in the olden times were 
spread before the kings. His whole soul was occupied in 
the work. He had undertaken to show honors to a deserv- 
ing and distinguished officer. 

The day before the dinner was to come off. Captain Bright 
inquired of Lieutenant Bleecker if he had been invited to 
Carroll's dinner. The lieutenant replied in the negative. 
Bright said: " Keep perfectly quiet, and I will secure you 
an invitation. I understand it will be a conspicuous occasion, 
and you must be there." The day arrived. The general 
and his staff made their toilets with more than ordinary care. 
It was an ideal day, one of those glorious balmy days, laden 
with autumn's rich content, and the air was perfumed with 
delightful odors. The world smiled on Carroll, and he was 
in a gay and happy mood. As soon as breakfast was over, 
he sought "Aunt Jenny," to inquire about the preparations. 
She said: " Lord, Mister Carroll, I aynt gwine cook no big 
dinner." Carroll was shocked and stunned, and demanded 
an explanation. "Aunt Jenny" told him that "Mister 
Bright dun got a letter from marster, an', an' he said he dun 
change he mind, he dun give the house over to Mr. Bright, 
cluden' of the turkeys, the hams, the coffee, and every thing, 



AV THE CONFEDERATE ARM!'. 105 

and, furthestmore, Mr. Bright dun told nie not to kill no more 
of his turkeys, ner bile no more of his hams, and Ise gwine 
to mind my marster, ceptin" God doan spare me." Bright 
saw Carroll talking to "Aunt Jenny," and walked down to 
the stables so that Carroll could not find him. Carroll soon 
had all the army niggers hunting for him. It was a serious 
situation, he had talked so confidently of his ability to make 
the day pleasant; he would preside and do the honors, etc., 
but the hour of despair had arrived. Finally, Bright was 
found; Carroll poured out great volumes of invectives at 
him; it came forth like smoke out of a chimney. Bright 
took it calmly, and after Carroll had exhausted his cauldron 
of sulphur and fire, quietly asked: "What on the earth is 
the matter with you, Bill?" He pretended to know nothing 
of the intended compliment to Colonel McCulloch. Carroll 
replied: "We have talked about nothing else for a week." 
Bright said: "You have not talked to Lieutenant Bleecker 
nor me." Then it dawned on Carroll, and he extended to 
both the most pressing invitation to be present. Bright gave 
"Aunt Jenny" permission to kill the turkey and cook every 
thing else desired to make the dinner worthy of the guest. 

Then, addressing Carroll, Bright began to quote him 
Scripture. He said: "Bill, Joshua attempted the unrea- 
sonable, and the walls of Jericho fell down ; Abraham and 
David attempted unreasonable things, and they failed, too; 
you can not expect to leave Bleecker and me out when the 
dinner bell rings; that would be unreasonable." It is suffi- 
cient to say that the dinner was a success, and none enjoyed 
it more than Bright. Carroll began at once to plan for re- 
venge, and he got it, as we will explain further on. 



106 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 



CHAPTER XIV. 

The Men Taught how to Jerk Beef — Colonel Young 
AND "the Colt" — Gallant Conduct of Major 
Chalmers — Narrow Escape of General Sherman. 

General Chalmers moved to the south bank of the Talla- 
hatchie, and made his headquarters at Moss' Mill. He was 
advised by Henderson's scouts that troops were moving from 
Memphis to reinforce the Federal army at Chattanooga. 
He determined to cut the Memphis and Charleston Railroad 
at several points, and began getting his command in readi- 
ness. Our commissary was confined to meal and beef; 
there was no bacon to be had, so the general decided to send 
his men to cooking school to learn how to cure beef. Willis' 
Texas Battalion, some two hundred men, were experts in the 
art of curing beef, as well as in charging the enemy. The 
general requested Colonel Willis to detail a number of his 
men to go among the other commands and teach them how 
to jerk beef. A day was devoted to the work with success. 

The men soon caught the idea and saw the benefits, and for 
the remainder of the war, wherever General Chalmers' 
division camped, forks and poles could be seen with little 
dabs of beef hanging on them over a smoke. Oftentimes 
dried beef proved a boon to our men. It could be carried 
for days and weeks, and did not require cooking. The 
writer remembers on many occasions seeing the men while 
on the march munching the jerked beef without bread, 



AV THE COXFEDERATE ARMV. 107 

joking each other, and inviting citizens along the route to 
"come in and have dinner, etc." On one occasion we 
were on the march through a sparcely settled country, where 
it was impossible to get any thing. The general and his 
staff camped under a big oak the previous evening without 
supper, and departed in the morning without breakfast. We 
rode along silent as the grave, except the patter, patter of the 
horses' feet, and the rattle of the spurs and sabers. The 
escort company followed, but they were as gay as red 
birds in spring. ' They carried in their saddle pockets good 
sized "hunks'' of jerked beef. The sallies and jests of the 
boys did not improve the situation. We felt no better, 
because of their being happy. We rode forward in silence ; 
not a word was spoken. Finally, we overtook the Second 
Missouri. Lieutenant Dick Eubanks rode at the head of his 
company. As we passed, Eubanks said: "General, stop 
and eat breakfast with me." The general turned his horse 
quick as thought and rode back to him, said: "Ah! Lieu- 
tenant, you please me greatly," at the same time reaching 
for Eubanks' hunk of beef, which was given with apparent 
liberal hospitality. But, as the general rode off, Eubanks 
exclaimed in a low tone : " May the saints forgive me ! Did 
you ever see a fellow lose three days rations so easily as 
that ? "' This remark of Dick Eubanks, who was a splendid 
specimen of Southern manhood, as well as a brave and de- 
voted soldier, brought forth a great laugh. While in camp 
at Moss' Mill, the headquarters " niggers ' were told to get 
every thing in readiness, and be certain to have a supply of 
jerked beef well salted. We had quite a number of them. 
Wallace belonged to the general, Hage to Lieutenant Banks, 



108 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

Boston to Major Mills, George to Major Chalmers, Jim and 
Burton to Lieutenant Bleecker, and Uncle Bedney to Colonel 
Young. Uncle Bedney, George and Jim were very re- 
ligious, while Wallace, Burton, Hage and Boston were not. 
Jim was our cook. He had authority to detail either of the 
others to assist him whenever he needed an assistant, and he 
complained that, since reaching Moss' Mill, he could get 
neither Wallace, Burton, Hage, nor Boston. They were 
called up and asked about it. Each said they were husy 
getting the horses in good condition and polishing the spurs, 
sabers, etc. The following morning the general ordered 
Lieutenant Bleecker to see each colonel during the day, re- 
questing them to meet at his headciuarters for advice. He 
called on Uncle Bedney to go down to the stable and to tell 
Burton to bring out his horse. LIncle Bedney said : " Dat 
horse aynt fitten to travel, he aynt been fed yit," and on 
being asked why, replied: " dem niggers aynt cum home 
yit." 

Lieutenant Bleecker walked down to the stable and found, 
as stated by LIncle Bedney, that the horses had not been fed. 
But he heard quarreling going on up in the loft. He climbed 
up the ladder, and found them in a game of seven-up, which 
they had been playing all night by a dim tallow candle. It 
did not take long to close the game after Bleecker found 
them. Going back to camp, he told the story. Uncle Bed- 
ney said, " I knowed it, I knowed it, I dun told em day would 
sho git ketched. " Major Chalmers asked Uncle Bedney 
why he had not reported on the niggers. Said : " Oh, Mars 
Ham, it's bad luck, it's bad luck to port on folks playing 
cards. Deed 'tis, sir! deed 'tis, sir!" Colonel Young, 



AV THE CONFEDERATE ARMV. 109 

Uncle Bedney's master, had been absent for two weeks on 
leave, and returned while we camped at the mill. He 
brought a new horse with him. (Now this is a true story.) 
He was the largest horse we ever saw. The writer has 
traveled from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Palm Beach, Florida, 
since that time ; he has drank water from the source of the 
San Antonia, and has seen thousands of horses, but not one 
of them approached in size the one Colonel Young rode into 
camp at Moss' Mill. The colonel said he was a colt, and 
always referred to him as "the colt." He was a straw- 
berry roan. The writer was at that time but a boy, and the 
impressions made upon the mind at his then age are different 
from those made on the mind of a maturer person, but his 
recollection of the colt is, that he was as high as the second 
story of the mill, and at this day, thirty-two years since that 
time, he can not change the opinion. The day after Colonel 
Young reached the mill, we were guessing on the colt's 
height. "Boston," on being asked for his opinion, said, 
"I nose, I dun measure him. He's thirty-five foot high." 
Uncle Bedney would lead him alongside of a tree, and then 
climb the tree in order to curry his back. We never found 
a stable door or a gin-house high enough for him to get under 
during the war. Whenever we broke camp, we left Colonel 
Young behind trying to mount the colt. If there was not a 
high fence about, he would lead him until he found a sapling 
which he could climb; but, after he once mounted, he had 
no trouble keeping up, for the colt could walk as fast as the 
other horses could trot. 

A few weeks before we camped at Moss' Mill, a man re- 
ported to General Chalmers offering his services as a spy. 



no PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

He had good references from several Confederate generals, 
including General Price. He claimed that he would be able 
to enter the enemy's lines at will, having a paper from Gen- 
eral Hurlbut passing him at all times. He made several 
trips into Memphis, but the information be brought amounted 
to nothing. He gave his name as Pearson. General 
Chalmers was suspicious of him, and decided to deceive him 
as to the point he intended to attack on the Memphis and 
Charleston Railroad. He therefore told him that he would 
move against Corinth. "Why," said Pearson, "it would be 
impossible to take Corinth with your force." "But," said 
the general, " I am only supposed to cover General Loring's 
division of infantry ; he is moving on Corinth from Mobile, 
and we can defeat any force which can be moved there from 
the near garrisons." Pearson left us with this information 
on his mind, and on September yth, we marched toward 
Holly Springs. Arriving there, we spent the night, and the 
following day moved toward La Grange, which was in the 
direction of Corinth. Pearson had ample time to advise 
General Hurlbut, which he did, as events proved. General 
Chalmers' force consisted of the Second Missouri, Willis' 
Texas Battalion, Seventh Tennessee, Third Mississippi, 
Second Arkansas, Major A. H. Chalmers' Mississippi Bat- 
talion, and two small pieces of artillery, about i,6oo men 
all told. 

Just before we reached Salem, the scouts reported a strong 
cavalry force at that place. It was evident the enerriy be- 
lieved General Chalmers was moving on to Corinth, and the 
force was sent to meet him. This Federal force consisted of 
five regiments of cavalry and two batteries of artillery, all 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. HI 

under command of Colonel Crellis, and numbered three 
thousand men, according to Colonel Crellis' own statement. 
There were two roads leading to Salem, one from Grand 
Junction, and the other from Holly Springs, which converged 
at the foot of the hill before reaching the little town. We 
approached by the road from Holly Springs. The angle 
formed by the convergence of the roads was covered with 
woods. Major Chalmers was ordered to bring on the fight. 
His battalion of six companies rested near the intersection 
of the roads. The enemy's guns were making the woods 
rattle. Lieutenant Bleecker carried the order to Major Chal- 
mers, and saw his men advance. The horses were left in 
the woods, and the men took their places in line. Major 
Chalmers was riding a very pretty bay horse, and as he passed 
along, gave the order, "Forward!" Just at that moment a 
shell exploded immediately in front of the line, killing the 
color bearer, the flag falling to the ground. Major Chalmers 
rode to the colors, and, leaning down without dismounting, 
caught them up. Most of his men had seen very little serv- 
ice ; a majority of them were boys under eighteen. The 
shell, therefore, created some confusion among them, but 
when the major waived the flag above his head, and called 
on them to follow, they gave a yell and rallied to the colors. 
Major Chalmers was by nature a handsome man, but he was 
a picture for an artist as he rode the little bay up the hill 
facing the enemy's lines, with that flag above him. Shot and 
shell filled the air with shrieks and other wicked sounds, but 
they did not check the boys. Nothing could stop them as 
long as the major waved the flag. The general, seeing the 
rush of the Mississippi boys, moved the command rapidly to 



112 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

their support, and within five minutes the entire force was 
engaged. Salem was, and is yet, only a small country vil- 
lage, but things were lively there that day. A few minutes 
after the two lines met face to face. Colonel McCuUoch, with 
the Second Missouri and Seventh Tennessee, mounted, sought 
the enemy's flank. The general had strong hopes of captur- 
ing a good part of them, but, before McCulloch could gain 
the rear, they fell back, mounted their horses, and left us in 
possession of their dead and wounded. Night came on, and 
the pursuit was abandoned. A detail was left to bury the 
dead and care for the wounded of both sides, and we rode 
rapidly back to Holly Springs. As General Chalmers be- 
lieved, Pearson was a Yankee spy- he gave General Hurlbut 
information that Chalmers would attack Corinth. As proof 
of this, reinforcements were sent to Corinth. We remained 
a few hours at Holly Springs, then marched to Collierville. 
Major Mitchell, with two companies of Major Chalmers' bat- 
talion, was sent to cut the railroad east of Collierville, and 
Major Cousins, of the Second Missouri, with two companies, 
was ordered to do the same on the west side, to prevent any 
reinforcements from reaching the garrison. We arrived 
within two miles of the station about daylight. Our advance 
guard captured the Yankee outpost, and, as soon as the pris- 
oners were turned over, made a dash at the inner guards, 
who, however, discovered our men in tune to escape and 
give the alarm. We moved forward at a gallop. Colonel 
McGuirk, with the Third Mississippi, was ordered to go in 
the rear of the fort, and attack from that point, while the 
balance of the command would advance from the south. 
McGuirk reached his place promptly, and found that the two 



IX THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 113 

Illinois regiments, Seventh and Eighth, had gOne, leaving a 
lot of dismounted men in camp. These dismounted men, 
about one hundred, ran in every direction. It was just after 
daylight, and the attack was a perfect surprise to them. 
Some of McGuirk's men began to chase the fugitives on foot, 
while others dismounted and began to go through the tents. 
General Chalmers' plan was for McGuirk to charge the rear 
of the fort simultaneously with his attack in front. We 
formed line, and moved through the woods to a point about 
four hundred yards from the fort, and waited for McGuirk. 
Our skirmish line was hody engaged ; the enemy, using ar- 
tillery, threw shells high above and beyond us. General 
Chalmers, growing impatient, sent Lieutenant Banks to order 
the Third Mississippi to the attack. A moment afterward, a 
long train of freight cars rolled into the station from Mem- 
phis, from which the Thirteenth Regulars disembarked and 
ran into the fort. We knew, of course, that IVIajor Cousins 
had failed to cut the road on the west, as ordered, otherwise 
the train could not have passed him. General Chalmers 
knew that any further delay would be ruinous, and, therefore, 
gave the order to charge. Our men moved forward in fine 
style, but were met by a hot fire. They charged within about 
sixty yards of the fort. We could see nothmg of the enemy 
except the tops of their heads. General Chalmers saw it 
would be a great sacrifice to storm the fort, and, therefore, 
withdrew under cover of the woods, the enemy in the mean- 
time shelling our position sharply. 

General Chalmers' plans were well laid, and had McGuirk 
charged the fort before the arrival of the Thirteenth Regu- 
lars, instead of halting in the cavalry camp, the garrison 



114 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC.. 

would, unquestionably, have been captured. Or had Major 
Cousins cut the road, as ordered, the Thirteenth Regulars 
could not have reinforced the garrison, and in that event we 
would have captured it. After the line had fallen back, and 
was resting in the woods. Lieutenant Bleecker was sent 
to find Lieutenant Banks and Colonel McGuirk. Arriving 
at the point where the rear of the train rested, he noticed a 
number of our men in the cars throwing out saddles, 
bridles, blankets, and bundles. Bleecker dismounted, 
hitched his horse to a telegraph pole, and boarded the coach 
at the end of the train. He wanted some of the plunder. 
The coach was empty, but on the seat was a handsome 
sword, which he picked up. He ran out to where the men 
were busy getting saddles. In one of the cars were several 
horses. It had not occurred to the men that the horses 
could be gotten out. Bleecker said, " Make them jump out,"' 
and with that he pulled himself into the car, untied a fine 
horse, and led him to the door. After much urging the horse 
jumped out. It did not require much time for the boys to 
get the others out. With their plunder, they all galloped off 
to catch the command, which had retired about a mile back, 
where the general waited in vain for the Federals to follow. 
Through the baggage taken from the cars, we discovered 
that General Sherman and staff were passengers on the train. 
We captured all their personal baggage. The sword which 
Bleecker found had the name of " Lieut. -Col. Ewing, Gen. 
Sherman's Staff," on the cover. It was a very handsome 
one. The horse which Bleecker captured was also a fine 
animal, and most likely was the one ridden by General Sher- 
man. Bleecker was very proud of his horse, but his pride 



/X THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 115 

of ownership was short lived, for the general ordered the 
quartermaster to take charge of him, as well as the others 
captured. 

As soon as we ascertained that General Sherman was in 
the fort, the failure was doubly regretted. Barton, one of 
Lieutenant Bleecker's negroes, named the captured horse, 
"Sherman," and often said his " marster captured Old 
Sherman." 

Think of the circumstances which make or -destroy the 
reputation or success of a man ! Had McGuirk moved on 
and captured the fort, instead of allowing his men to halt in 
camp, or had Major Cousins cut the road, as ordered, Sher- 
man would almost certainly have been captured, and the story 
of the burning of churches, convents, and school-houses, and 
the destruction of every thing to eat along his line of march 
in Georgia, without a foe in his front, would never have been 
told, and future generation, would not have read how help- 
less women, often sick and destitute, appealed to him to 
spare their houses and a few rations of meal, and how con- 
temptuously they were pushed aside. The houses were 
burned as well as all their provisions. Had we captured 
Sherman, he never would have had the opportunity to make 
himself famous, and in all probability he would have been 
in prison during the balance of the war. 

We fell back, going south, and crossed the Coldwater at 
Ingraham's Mill. 



116 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 



CHAPTER XV. 

Fight at Moscow, Tennessee — Bright Pays His Re- 
spects TO Carroll — A Yankee Cavalryman Kills 
"Uncle Steve" — A Texan Lassoes a Woman. 

On the last of November, 1863, General Chalmers received 
advice from General S. D. Lee that General Forrest, with a 
small force, would cross the Memphis and Charleston Rail- 
road and go into West Tennessee, and desiring him to assist 
Forrest through. We moved south, crossing the Tallahatchie 
at Panola. Orders were issued for four days' rations, and 
every thing was put in readiness for a quick movement. It 
had been raining very hard for two days. We crossed the 
river at Rocky Ford, and moved in the direction of Grand 
Junction, to co-operate with General Lee, who left Okalona 
with Furguson's and Ross' brigades about the same time. 
General Chalmers advanced on La Grange, driving in the 
enemy's pickets, and threatening the garrison, while Furgu- 
son and Ross were gathering around Pocahontas. These 
demonstrations were intended to attract the attention of the 
enemy, and prevent his interference with the passage of Gen- 
eral Forrest into West Tennessee. It was General Forrest's 
purpose to enlist all the men he could find, who were at that 
time within the enemy's lines. There were numbers who had 
been wounded and allowed to go home, but who, after getting 
well, made no effort to rejoin their commands. These men 
belonged to the Army of Tennessee principally. It was a 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMV. 117 

desperate undertaking, but Forrest boldly marched into the 
enemy's lines with about three hundred and fifty men, cross- 
ing the railroad at Saulsbury. He remained at Jackson 
nearly a month, surrounded by about forty thousand of the 
enemy. After the passage, General S. D. Lee, who was in 
command of all the cavalry in the state, decided to make 
further demonstrations against the garrisons along the Mem- 
phis and Charleston Railroad. This would prevent pursuit 
of Forrest. Early on the morning of December 4th, he 
moved with all the command toward Moscow, General Chal- 
mers, with McCuUoch's brigade, taking the advance. Arriv- 
ing at that point. General Lee directed that McCulloch should 
attack from the south on the public road leading to Moscow 
(this road crossed Wolf river), and Ross was ordered to cap- 
ture and destroy the railroad bridge west of Moscow. Chal- 
mers, McCulloch, Ross, and Lee discussed the plan for a few 
minutes, when General Lee said: "Colonel Ross, take the 
bridge. I give you this opportunity to win your spurs" 
(meaning, of course, a brigadiership). Ross dashed off, and 
in a short while was hotly engaged. McCulloch was not 
pleased with the remark. His commission as colonel was 
older than that of Ross, and he felt that the sentiment was an 
injustice to him. He left Missouri with his regiment, and 
had made a brilliant reputation. He had fought all over the 
territory as far south as Grenada, neither his men nor him- 
self ever failing to do their duty. As he rode off to make the 
attack as directed, he remarked : " He has a chance to win his 
spurs, but he won't do it to-day. He won't burn the bridge." 
McCuUoch's brigade consisted of the Second Missouri, Willis' 
Texas Battalion, Seventh Tennessee, Major Chalmers' bat- 



118 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS. ETC., 

talion, and Hovis' and Wisdom's regiments. McCuUoch was 
known as "Colonel Black Bob." The lieutenant-colonel of 
the Second Missouri was also named Robert McCulloch. 
They were cousins. The colonel had dark hair and beard, 
while the lieutenant-colonel had red hair and beard, and 
they were known as "Colonel Black Bob" and "Colonel 
Red Bob." Nor was there in the Confederate army two men 
whose services were given more entirely to the cause. They 
had dash and daring, and they had the bravery of Forrest, 
yet they were modest almost to a fault. Colonel Black Bob 
quickly formed his line, and advanced through the river bot- 
tom, driving in the enemy's skirmishers. The roadway was 
considerably higher than the ground on either side, having 
been raised from time to time on account of overflow. Be- 
hind the earth embankment the enemy formed a line, secur- 
ing a great advantage. McCulloch led his men, dismounted, 
and moved through the cypress knees and slush, driving the 
foe from this favored position. He had no hope of winning 
spurs, but governed by that principle which controlled him at 
all times, he determined to do his duty. The fight was fu- 
rious. The enemy's shell and grape-shot shattered trees and 
threw bark and limbs on all sides. As soon as McCulloch 
dislodged the enemy from behind the road-bed, their guns 
swept it. But with that gallantry which always characterized 
his men, they pushed on, driving the enemy to the river. 
As the last of them were crossing the bridge on their retreat, 
some of McCulloch's men mixed with them in a hand-to-hand 
fight. McCulloch lost many good men, among whom was 
his adjutant. Captain Gaines, a gallant and heroic officer. 
In the meantime, Ross had been hotly engaged at the trestle 



/.V THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 119 

on the railroad, but did not make any impression. He was 
forced to retire without burning the bridge. McCulloch es- 
tablished his line as instructed, but on account of Ross' failure, 
was ordered to fall back. We moved south to Panola, and 
the command was distributed along the river at various cross- 
ings. 

While the fight at Moscow was not a success, it accom- 
plished the object of getting General Forrest through the 
lines, and left the enemy in doubt about future movements. 
We had no other troops engaged at Moscow, except Ross' 
and McCulloch's brigades. After the fight Furguson was 
sent back to the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. General Chal- 
mers, with his staff and escort, were on the left of McCul- 
loch's line during the fight, where he could watch both 
positions. His staff officers were going constantly with 
orders and reporting back to him the situation at different 
points during the engagement. He found occasion to send 
Captain Carroll, of the escort company, with an order to 
Colonel McCulloch, *' To drive the enemy from the road." 
Things were boiling in that cypress swamp about that time. 
As Carroll returned, he noticed Captain Tom Henderson, 
of the scouts, sitting on his roan behind three large Tupelo 
gums, which were near each other, watching the enemy's 
line. Grape and cannister were playing inharmonious tunes 
among the trees. Carroll was no doubt praying for, as well 
as seeking, a place of safety as he rushed through the woods, 
for he knew he must go at least a quarter before he was out 
of range. Seeing Captain Henderson he turned his course 
toward him, and sought the partial shelter of the trees. 
Captain Bright soon afterward was sent by the general to 



120 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

order Colonel Hovis with his regiment to the left, to meet a 
movement from the enemy which was intended to flank our 
position. Bright rode from the opposite direction, of course, 
and saw Carroll and Captain Henderson. He went dashing 
through the shot and shell with bated breath, and the chances 
were very much in favor of his never getting back. There 
were no accident insurance companies in those days. Bright 
was a remarkable man, well named, and full of fun ; his 
presence invariably inspired any crowd he was with. He 
was jovial and companionable, as bright as a new dollar, and 
never had the blues so far as we knew, and, above all, he was 
a man of resources. He had a good memory, and an eye 
for "the eternal fitness of things." He drew rein, and said : 
"Bill, General Lee directs that you find Colonel Hovis 
quickly, and order him to take his regiment to the left of 
Colonel McCuUoch's line, to meet a flank movement of the 
Yankees ; he, also, desires you to accompany the regiment 
on the movement." There was no time to parley. Carroll 
dashed off through the woods like a rabbit running from a 
burning sedge field. Just before reaching Colonel Hovis, 
who was on the right, he saw Captain Gaines galloping in the 
same direction. They bore toward each other, but just as 
they were about to meet Captain Gaines was shot through 
with an ounce ball and fell. In a moment the riderless horse 
was killed also. Carroll soon reached Colonel Hovis, and 
together, the two at the head of the column, moved to the 
rear and around to the left. General Chalmers with the 
escort company was hotly engaged with the enemy when they 
reached him. Carroll joined his company. The intended 
flank movement was balked. That night, while we sat around 



IN THE CONFEDERATE RAMV. 121 

the big wood fire, each had his story to tell of the dangers he 
had passed through, and all paid compliments to the gallant 
fellows of McCuUoch's brigade. Bright listened to Carroll 
as he went over the events of the day, after which he related 
how he sent Carroll on the dangerous mission. We laughed 
at the circumstance, and all agreed that Bright was the 
smartest man in the party. Carroll took in every word. He 
sat silently, and seemed to be dreaming. Finally, he asked 
Bright: "Is that a fact? Didn't General Lee send that 
order ? Great Heavens ! Suppose I had been killed ! " He 
got up from his seat on the log and walked over to Bright. 
Bright had the most exasperating laugh, and he was giving 
it to Carroll for all it was worth. Addressing him, Carroll 
said ? " I do not mind doing your work, but I have got all 
I want of that d — n laugh." Bright replied : " Bill, you re- 
member that dinner you gave to McCulloch ? " 

We remained on the south bank of the Tallahatchie until 
December the i8th, when we crossed again and moved in 
the direction of Memphis. The move was intended to pre- 
vent the enemy from sending any troops after General For- 
rest. We reached Como on the 20th, and made headquarters 
again at Colonel Wallace's. We reached there at night, and 
found every thing in confusion. Aunt Jenny opened the 
house and did every thing in her power to make us com- 
fortable, but sad scenes had been enacted since our last visit. 
The place looked very much as if a cyclone had struck it. 
Aunt Jenny's smiles and hospitable manner had gone ; she 
told us the story between sobs. She said: "They killed 
poor Steve ; them hateful Yankees killed him. Soon as you 
all left marster's house, they come galloping all around bout 



122 PERSONAL RECOLLEC7 IONS, ETC., 

the place, shooting our calves and hogs and chickens, and 
every thing they could see. They rode their horses over 
mistis' flowers, and dun every thing they could that was 
mean. After they dun all this meanness, they began to cuss 
Steve and me. Steve told them they did not have any man- 
ners ; that marster did n't have nary nigger but what was bet- 
ter raised than them. Seem like they got madder at Steve. 
They told him to draw water for their horses. Steve did n't 
want to do it, but he said marster told him to be polite to 
every body when they come to the house, and he went to 
draw the water. I am telling you the truth. Them hateful 
Yankees come here to kill Steve. They called him a da — n 
rebel nigger. When he samely draw the water up, they took 
the bucket and dashed it on Steve ; that made the old man 
mad, and he 'lowed marster never had cussed him, neither 
had he 'bused him, and they might kill him, but he won't 
draw no more water, and Steve did n't nuther, 'cause them 
hateful Yankees beat his brains out with their guns, and I 'm 
telling you the truth, they left him lying in his blood in the 
mud. Then they got on their horses and galloped around, 
shooting bullets in the house — you see the holes in the walls 
yourselfs. They said the next time the rebels come to 
marster's house, they was going to burn it. There was nobody 
on the place but me, and I say to myself, what is marster 
going to say when he hears them hateful Yankees killed 
Steve. Yes, sir, we buried him, but it was nearly night be- 
fore any body come along to pick Steve up. Mr. Merri- 
wether said, 'Bury him m the garden,' so marster could see 
his grave when he come home. I dread for marster to come 
home; he 'pended mightily on Steve; he fairly loved him. 




A Texan makes use of his Lasso. 



/X THE CONFEDERATE ARMV. 123 

I know what mistis will do. Mistis sho will grieve. She 
begged marster to take Steve away." Aunt Jenny told her 
story without pausing to catch her breath. It was all like 
one sentence, and when she could say no more, being over- 
come with grief, she covered her face with her apron and left 
the house. We were a sad party ; we felt that Uncle Steve 
had lost his life because of his attentions to us. 

We remained at Como until the day before Christmas, when 
we moved around Memphis toward Germantown. General 
Chalmers had been advised that General Forrest, with a large 
lot of cattle and horses, would attempt to return to our lines. 
He recruited about a thousand men, whom he was bringing 
out also, but none of them had guns. General Forrest 
crossed near Mount Pleasant, and reached us safely with all 
his supplies. We returned to Como, reaching there Friday, 
January i, 1864, the coldest day ever known in the country; 
the entire command, including the artillery, crossed creeks 
on ice. Our troops suffered greatly, and numbers were un- 
able to dismount when we reached Como. 

When Colonel McCulloch moved from Panola, he haa con- 
siderable difficulty in getting his men across the Tallahatchie 
river. The crossing was accomplished on a pontoon bridge, 
and only a few men and their horses could cross at a time. 
Those in the rear, while waiting, would slip back into the 
little town. General Chalmers, seeing this, sent his staff 
officers to order the men in line. They rode along calling 
on the men to close up. Several Texans, hearing the order, 
dashed along the street at break-neck speed ; one fellow, some 
distance in the rear, yelling as he ran whirling his lasso above 
his head, passed an old store in which stood a figure of a 



124 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

woman, a wire frame used for displaying cloaks and dresses. 
There was an old faded pink shirt on the figure, which stood 
near a window, the sash was out, the Texan saw it, and quick 
as a flash his rope caught the dummy. Down the street he 
flew, dragging the thing after him. It was light, and some- 
times would rise six feet above the ground. Every person 
who saw it thought he had lassoed a woman. People 
looked on in dread. The fellow yelling every jump, and 
wearing his big hat on the back of his head, the scene was 
startling. Arriving at the river, he halted, drew in his rope, 
caught the figure under his arm, and calmly and quietly rode 
on the bridge, A great crowd followed to see the outcome, 
and when they saw what he had, a cheer went up. 




Lieut. -General Nathan Bedford Forrest. 

"Natura lo fece, e poi ruppe la stampa." 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 125 



Lieutenant-General N. B. Forrest. 

Nathan Bedford Forrest, was born on the 13th day of July, 
A. D. 182 1, at Chapel Hill, in what was then Bedford, but is 
now Marshall, county, Tennessee. 

His father was Wm. Forrest, and his mother Mariam Beck, 
whose first-born were twins, one of whom was Nathan Bed- 
ford, the other a girl. William Forerst was the son of Na- 
than Forrest and Miss Baugh. Nathan Forrest was the son 
of Shadrack Forrest, who was of English descent, and who 
emigrated from the Colony of Virginia, in 1730, to Orange 
county, Colony of North Carolina, and in 1806 to Tennessee. 
Miss Baugh was of Irish origin. Mariam Beck, the wife of 
Wm. Forrest, was of Scotch-Irish descent. 

It will therefore be seen that Nathan Bedford was of English, 
Scotch, and Irish descent. William Forrest died in 1837, leav- 
ing a family of seven boys and three girls, and four months 
after his death the eighth son, Jeffrey, was born. The untimely 
death of his father deprived Nathan Bedford of any further 
school advantages, because his labor was necessary for the 
support of his mother and her children. He went to work 
on the little farm with all the energy and determination which 
characterized him afterward, and by 1849, when he was nine- 
teen years old, had accumulated a reasonable competency 
for his mother and family. 

In 1 841, he joined a company to go to Texas, but on 
reaching New Orleans the necessary arrangements could not 
be made for the trip beyond, and the company was dis- 
banded. Bedford and a few others determined to go on, 
and went so far as Houston, but, finding no demand for his 
services, he returned to his home in the fall of 1842. 

His early life was a series of hardships, and he had many 
dangerous personal encounters, in all of which he acquitted 



126 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS. ETC., 

himself with credit. In 1845, ^" the 25th year of his age, 
he married Miss Mary Ann Montgomery, and lived at Her- 
nando, Miss., until 1852, when he moved to Memphis and 
engaged in the real estate business. He prospered, and in 
i860 owned two fine plantations in Coahoma county, Miss. 
He enlisted as a private in Captain J. S. White's cavalry 
company, June 10, 1861, and in July was commissioned by 
the governor of Tennessee to raise a regiment of cavalry, 
which he armed and equipped at his own expense. From 
colonel he was successively promoted to brigadier-general, 
major-general, and lieutenant-general. Mariam Beck, the 
mother of General Forrest, was a woman of remarkable char- 
acter, as well as great physical force, and her children un- 
doubtedly inherited their energy and determination from her. 
Of the union between General Forrest and Mary Ann Mont- 
gomery, there was born one son, Wm. Montgomery Forrest, 
who served as captain and aide-de-camp to his father during 
the war. 

No one was at any time during the war near the person 
of General Forrest, will consider the following a panegyric, 
nor any thing more than a just and fair delineation of the 
man, the soldier, and the general. It came into my posses- 
sion credited to Colonel Joyce. Who he was, and whether 
living or dead, I know not, and never knew. It attracted 
my attention and challenged my admiration when I first read 
it, and I give it here verbatim : 

" Forrest was a magnetic man, standing stalwart and erect, 
six feet one inch, broad shouldered, long arms, high ronnd 
forehead, dark gray eyes, a prominent nose, emphatic jaw, 
compressed lips, and a moustache setting off a face that said 
to all the world : ' Out of my way, I 'M coming.' 

"His step was firm, action impulsive, voice sonorous, 
and, taken all in all, there was not a soldier of the Confed- 
eracy that acted with more celerity or effective force from 
the 14th of June, 1861, when he became a private at Mem- 




CaPT. (iEORGE DaSHIELL. 
Of General Forrest's Staff. 



AV THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 127 

phis, to the 9th day of May, 1S65, at Gainesville, Ala., 
where he surrendered as lieutenant-general to the United 
States authorities. 

"To determine with Forrest, was to act, and the flash of 
his saber at the head of his columns charging the cavalry or 
infantry of the enemy, inspired his troops with the sunlight 
of victory, and they dashed into battle like the audacious 
warriors of Napoleon on the field of Austerlitz. 

The most heroic thing ever done by Forrest,* was his res- 
cue of young Abel, who had killed a friend in a family 
quarrel, from the hands of a Memphis mob of 3,000 infuri- 
ated men. They had dragged the boy from the jail, swung 
the rope around his neck, and were in the act of hoisting 
him over a beam, when this intrepid citizen rushed through 
the frantic crowd, drew his bowie-knife, cut the rope, and 
hurried the intended victim back to jail, where the mob fol- 
lowed, and still demanded blood. 

"Forrest jumped upon the jail steps, drew a revolver, 
and swore he would kill the first man that attemptad to en- 
ter, and then and there, that lone hero, with truth and law 
on his side, conquered a howling, desperate mob. There 
was nothing in his subsequent career that equaled this for 
desperate, sublime courage, such as ' Winkelried ' displayed, 
when he threw himself on the Austrian spears, or Leoni- 
das blocking the pass of Thermopyl^E with his immortal three 
hundred." 



* This actually occurred in Memphis in 1857, and there are men 
now living who witnessed the occurrence. 



128 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Forrest Cavalry Organized at Como, Miss. — Seven- 
teen Men Ordered to be Shot at Oxford — The 
Battle of Okolona — Colonel Jeffrey Forrest 
Killed — A Touching Scene — The Enemy Burn Pri- 
vate Property. 

Soon after General Chalmers' command had well settled in 
camp, General Forrest reached us with his force, including 
the men he recruited in West Tennessee. He organized 
what proved to be the most remarkable command in the 
army. At that time, January 4, 1864, General Polk was as- 
signed to the command of the department. General Forrest 
was given command of all the cavalry in Mississippi and 
North Alabama. Two brigades composed General Chalmers' 
division. One brigade, commanded by Colonel Robert Mc- 
Culloch, consisted of the Second Missouri, Lieutenant-Colonel 
McCuUoch; Willis' Texas Battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Theo. 
Willis; Falkner's Kentucky Regiment, Colonel W. W. Falk- 
ner; Eighteenth Mississippi Regiment, Colonel A. H. Chal- 
mers; and Reiser's Mississippi Battalion. 

The second brigade, commanded by Colonel Jeffrey For- 
rest, was: McDonald's Battalion, Colonel Kelly; Seventh 
Tennessee, Colonel Duckworth ; Third Mississippi, Colonel 
McGuirk ; Fifth Mississippi, Lieutenant-Colonel Barksdale ; 
and the Nineteenth Mississippi, Colonel Duff. 

A brigade commanded by Colonel Richardson, and another 
by Colonel Barteau, were also organized. Within a few days. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM!'. 129 

General Forrest left us for Meridian, to consult with General 
Polk. General Chalmers was left in command. 

We moved to the south bank of the Tallahatchie, and on 
the morning of January 8, 1864, Henderson's scouts reported 
that a large force would leave Memphis about the nth, in 
three columns, one via Hernando, one via Holly Springs, and 
the third in the direction of Okolona. Also, that Sherman, 
with a large force, would leave Vicksburg at the same time, 
to co-operate with the force moving from Memphis; the pur- 
pose being to destroy all the supplies in the rich prairie sec- 
tion of Mississippi and Alabama. The weather was intensely 
cold, and our men were scantily clad. Great numbers of 
them suffered severely from frost-bite. General Chalmers 
notified General Forrest of the situation, at the same time 
disposed of the command to meet the advancing Federals. 
McCuUoch was left at Panola, Bell sent to Belmont, Richard- 
son to Wyatt, and McQuirk to Abbeville. The balance of 
the command was sent to Oxford, where General Chalmers 
made his headquarters, and at which place General Forrest 
rejoined us. While we remained at Oxford, quite a number 
of the new men whom General Forrest had recruited in West 
Tennessee decided they could not endure the cold and suffer- 
ing, and therefore determined to leave the service and return 
home. This was a serious matter, and required severe and 
heroic action to check it. As soon as the fact was reported, 
General Forrest sent men to capture and bring them back. 
Fifteen or twenty were caught, and carried before General 
Forrest, who ordered them to be shot the next day. He had 
coffins made for each, and a long grave dug. The crowd sen- 
tenced consisted of ten boys and seven men. Intense excite- 



130 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

ment prevailed in the neighborhood and among the troops. 
Delegations of ladies and ministers appealed to General 
Forrest to spare the men, but he was obdurate. He said he 
would have no such worthless thrash disgrace his command. 
The hour arrived, and the deserters riding on their coffins 
moved to the spot selected for the execution. Two com- 
panies guarded the procession. They arrived at the grave, 
and each man, with his hands tied behind him, sat on the 
small end of his coffin waiting for the word fire. The occa- 
sion was one of the most serious as well as the most solemn 
ever witnessed by those present. Several hundred soldiers 
stood around to see what the end would be, and large num- 
bers of citizens and little children were there. The two 
companies moved to position and loaded their guns. Every 
thing was in readiness awaiting the command. Who can 
realize the thoughts that crossed the minds of those men and 
boys, as they sat on the crumbling brink of eternity, and 
looked into the interminable abyss ? It was awful ! People 
waited for the command "fire." The officer seemed to 
hesitate, but every one knew it must be done. Those brave, 
tried and true men, who stood in line with their guns at a 
ready were suffering almost as much as the deserters. 
Their faces were pale, but stern. It was the greatest trial of 
their lives, but they were steady. There was not the slightest 
quiver. The officer passed in front of the soldiers, and took 
his position on the right, and faced to the left. The time 
was short now. Only a moment left for those human beings 
who had disgraced themselves and the cause. They were 
doomed. "Here comes General Forrest," some one said, 
and he rode hurriedly up in front of the condemned. He 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMV. 131 

said: " Captain, untie those men and turn them loose," then 
turning to the deserters said : " Now, boys, you go to your 
commands, and see if you can't make good soldiers." Gen- 
eral Forrest rode rapidly back to town, and the men who had 
marched in that solemn procession for execution were free. 
The town was wild. The terrible gloom which hung over 
the place gave way to cheers. Men and children went run- 
ing from house to house telling the news. An hour before 
both soldiers and citizens were in the depths, now they 
moved about and laughed. What a wonderful thing is the 
human mind ! 

General Forrest was overrun by people expressing apprecia- 
tion for his pardon of the men. It was a master stroke. 
There were no more desertions, and the men learned that 
General Forrest was not cruel, nor unnecessarily severe, but 
they also learned that he would not be trifled with. The 
effect was marvelous. The old soldiers who had served 
under him laughed and said: "We knew he would do 
it," and the recruits said: "me too." 

This circumstance was talked about throughout the South, 
and hundreds of people heard that the boys were shot. They 
censured General Forrest greatly, and there are to-day men 
and women who believe that the men were killed. They 
have never forgiven General Forrest. But the writer was 
with General Forrest nearly two years, and closely associated 
with his campaigns. The statement, as detailed above, is 
true in every particular. Forrest seemed to know by instinct 
what was necessary to do. He was pleasant and com- 
panionable when he was not disturbed, but no occasion ever 
arose which he was not master of. He fought to kill, but he 



132 PERSONAL RECOLLECriONS, ETC., 

treated his prisoners with all the consideration in his power. 
So he did his own men. But he wanted the latter for serv- 
ice, and not merely to count. I state it with confidence, 
that any man who followed Forrest was a good one. He 
could not stay unless he was. A man who can show that he 
was with Forrest the last year and a half of the war is no or- 
dinary man, you can depend on that. 

On January ii, 1864, the enemy left Memphis, moving 
east. Sherman began his march to Meridian at the same 
time. The army leaving Memphis was commanded by Gen- 
eral Sooy Smith. General Forrest, after consultation with 
General Chalmers, telegraphed General Polk he thought it 
best to concentrate all the available forces against Smith and 
whip him, after which attention could be given to Sherman. 
General Polk approved the plan, and promised to send all 
the troops he could to assist us. It was the evident purpose 
of the enemy to march on Meridian, and there decide 
whether to go to Selma or Mobile. It was well known to 
Sherman that we had but a small force, and this move would 
necessarily divide it. The Confederate Government received 
a large proportion of the supplies for the army from the sec- 
tion which the enemy sought to impoverish and desolate. It 
was, therefore, a most trying situation. Either of the col- 
umns, Smith's or Sherman's, greatly outnumbered our forces, 
and yet these two armies must not come together. How 
could it be prevented.? On January 14, 1864, General Chal- 
mers reached Houston with his division, while Barteau was 
marching toward Okalona. The following day the entire 
command halted at and around Okalona. We found worlds 
of corn in pens along the line of the Mobile and Ohio Rail- 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM F. 133 

road. It was our first trip to the prairies. The horses were 
fed all they could eat. It was a blessing to them. A caval- 
ryman thinks first of his horse. It was the first time in 
weeks that the horses had sufficient feed. General Forrest 
went to West Point, so as to be in communication with Gen- 
eral Polk, and left General Chalmers in command. The 
enemy was moving on us. General Polk telegraphed Gen- 
eral Forrest that he was hurrying a brigade to his support. 
General Forrest sent word to General Chalmers to hold his 
ground as long. as he could, without bringing on a general 
conflict. We fell slowly back toward West Point, skirmishing 
over every foot of the route. General Chalmers was so stub- 
born in his retreat that several times General Smith made dis- 
position for battle, but as soon as he was ready, we fell back 
a few miles and went through the same tactics. We reached 
West Point, and crossed to the south side of tlie Sookatoncha 
river, on January 19th. The enemy, in the meantime, was 
busily engaged burning every thing that could be of any serv- 
ice. At night we could see fires for miles. They burned 
houses, cribs, fences, and every thing they found. On Janu- 
ary 20th, the enemy camped near West Point, Miss. Early 
on the morning of the 21st, we crossed the Sookatoncha, 
with McCuUoch's and Jeffrey Forrest's brigades. General 
Forrest was with us. Those of the enemy who were not en- 
gaged burning the houses and property of defenseless citizens 
were resting quietly in camp. General Forrest, at the head 
of Jeffrey Forrest's brigade, struck the enemy near West 
Point. They were not looking for us. Forrest dashed at 
them in front, and McCulloch's brigade slashed them in the 
flank. They were surprised, and fled in confusion. We 



134 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

had them flying in twenty minutes. The enemy ran for 
their Uves. We drove them about five miles, when they 
formed on a line of hills. There was an open field for a full 
quarter of a mile in their front. As soon as our troops 
poured out of the woods, the enemy sent a line charging 
down the hill to meet us. General Smith had his artillery 
massed on his left flank, from which he rained shot and shell 
upon our line. McCulloch was in front. It looked as if he 
could not check that charge, nor stand the fury of the artil- 
lery; but "Old Black Bob," with his long saber raised above 
his head, called on his men to charge. They did not disap- 
point him. They raised a yell and rushed on. The men 
acted as if they were inspired. Colonel Forrest and part of 
his brigade rode rapidly to the left, seeking the enemy's rear, 
and struck him in the flank about the time McCulloch met 
him in front. General Forrest rushed forward with McCul- 
loch. It was but a short time before the enemy was in full 
retreat. We had a running fight nearly to Okalona, and but 
for night coming on, and the bad condition of the roads and 
fields, there is no telling what would have been the result. The 
enemy retreated as fast as we could advance. He used the 
road, while it was necessary for us to use the fields, in order to 
get in his rear. Every man was in the saddle by daylight the 
next morning. General Forrest learned that the enemy had 
formed a line for battle just in the suburbs of Okalona. He 
ordered Jeffrey Forrest to attack on the right flank, while 
McCulloch was sent to the left. Barteau, with his command 
and the artillery, he posted in front. It was evident that 
General Smith intended to make the fight of his life right 
there. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 135 

Our troops advanced about the same time from each position. 
The enemy was well posted. It did not look reasonable that 
we could drive that long line with the small force we had. But 
the advance was ordered, and our men went to work. Bar- 
teau's line advanced beautifully. Jeffrey Forrest met a strong 
resistance. So did McCuUoch, with whom General Forrest 
was. Forward they moved. The enemy poured a terrific fire 
on us, and fought stubbornly. Jeffrey Forrest, at the head of 
the gallant Seventh Tennessee, was shot, and fell, but the line 
did not halt. In a few minutes General Forrest was apprised 
of his death. He galloped to where he lay, and dismounted. 
He kneeled down and raised Jeffrey's head. He held him in 
a sitting position a moment, kissed him, and gently placed 
him back on the ground. He spread his handkerchief over 
his face, and mounted his horse. Two of his staff, Major J. 
P. Strange and Captain Charles Anderson, together with his 
escort, were silent witnesses to that sad scene. They knew 
how devoted General Forrest was to Jeffrey, and they knew 
the terrible ordeal he was passing through. But when he 
mounted he left his heart by JeftVey's side, and carried mad- 
ness and destruction in his saddle. He called on ''Gaus," 
his bugler, to sound the charge, and at the head of his escort, 
with Major Strange and Captain Anderson by his side, he 
flew to the enemy's flank. In the meantime our men were 
driving the line back. General Forrest rushed over and rode 
down the enemy in his front. A panic soon followed. Mc- 
CuUoch had advanced his line nearly a mile, while Barteau 
drove them from the center. There was now a complete 
rout. The enemy ran in disorder, throwing away their guns 
and every thing which impeded their speed. General For- 



136 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

rest continued to repeat: "Charge them! charge them!" 
He was bent on the destruction of that army. But our 
troops and horses were completely exhausted. They were 
compelled to get their breath. He, therefore, withdrew the 
pursuit. 

General Gholson, with about a thousand state troops, 
reached us early on the morning of the 23d, and hounded 
the retreating enemy all day. Just as the enemy's lines 
broke, Colonel McCuUoch was painfully wounded. We 
lost a number of gallant men, among them Lieutenant-Colonel 
James A. Barksdale, killed at the head of his regiment. He 
was an ideal man and soldier. No braver man ever gave his 
life to a patriotic cause. General Smith was so badly whipped 
that he made no halt until he reached Memphis. He left 
there with eight thousand or more men, splendidly equipped, 
cavalry and artillery, with a large train of wagons, confident 
he would join Sherman. It did not occur to him or his men 
that Forrest, with his undisciplined force of about thirty-five 
hundred men, could stay the march an hour. We killed and 
wounded several hundred of the enemy, and captured many 
more ; together with a large number of wagons and a portion 
of his artillery and horses. Prior to this fight, even the ad- 
mirers of Forrest would say that his success was due some- 
what to circumstances. But this occasion proved that he 
was the genius of battle. Think of it just a moment! Gen- 
eral Smith, with nearly five thousand men in excess of For- 
rest's entire force, routed and sent flying back over the road 
he came. On his march to West Pomt, his men, after burn- 
ing every thing in reach, would tell the old men and women 
who begged for their property what they would do to Forrest 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 137 

and Chalmers when they caught them. These same old 
people had the satisfaction of seeing the rascals running for 
their lives, willing to beg pardon or do any thing to keep 
from meeting Forrest. 

In the meantime Sherman was marching on Meridian, 
with little or no resistance in his way. When finally he 
reached that point, and heard of the defeat of Smith, he 
folded his wings and returned to Vicksburg, without accom- 
plishing any object, except to burn and destroy every thing 
in his path. Provisions he could not find transportation for 
he burned. He positively left nothing on his trail for the 
helpless women and children to eat. The greatest suffering 
for days and weeks was undergone by those poor people 
whom he had robbed. Every horse, mule, and cow was 
driven off. Ladies appealed to him to leave them one horse 
or cow, and a few rations of meal, but I challenge the world 
to produce a person who will say that Sherman was ever 
touched by the pleadings of any woman, even though she 
asked for what belonged to her. Like the eyeless cobra, he 
plunged his deadly fangs into every thing that moved within 
his reach. 



138 PERSOXAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 



CHAPTER XVII. 

How THE Boys Sang the Praise of the Starkville 
Girls — Colonel Young and Lieutenant Taylor 
PLAY A Game of Cards — The Battle of Fort Pil- 
low — The Conduct of the Negroes — How Forrest 
Looked. 

After the fight at Okalona, the entire command was dis- 
tributed between Starkville and Columbus. The abundance 
of corn stored in pens and stacks of fodder and hay furnished 
the opportunity to put the horses in good condition. Com- 
pany officers were required to look after horses under their 
charge. The experienced cavalryman took good care of his 
own horse. He knew the value of having him in good con- 
dition, but the men recently enlisted (and they constituted 
about one-half of the command) thought more of their own 
comfort than that of their horses. All this had to be looked 
after, and the men taught the important lesson of true horse- 
manship. A man who understands how to ride is never 
troubled with a sore-backed horse. We had an entire regi- 
ment of expert horsemen, and we had regiments that had to 
learn the art, even after the Okalona fight. General Forrest 
made his headquarters at Columbus, where the people were 
devotedly attached to him. No Federal command had ever 
reached Columbus, and the people believed that Forrest 
would prevent them from ever doing so. General Forrest 
was fond of company, and spent the time there most pleas- 
antly. The ladies presented him with a magnificent horse, 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMV. 139 

which became almost as famous as the general himself. His 
name was "King Phillip." He was perfectly white with 
dark mane and tail. He was a model saddle horse, and 
made of the same kind of stuff that the general was. We 
would like to see a monument erected over "Old Phillip." 
He was buried, after the war, on the general's farm in 
Coahoma county, Mississippi. Further on we will tell of 
"King Phillip's" virtues. 

General Chalmers made his headquarters, near Starkville, 
at the pleasant home of Mrs. Montgomery. It was a com- 
fortable and delightful place. The general and his staff spent 
a most pleasant ten days halt and rest there. Captain Her- 
bert, formerly on the staff of General Imboden of General 
Lee's army, had but a short while previous to this reported 
to General Chalmers for duty, and was temporarily a member 
of the staff. Major H. H. Chalmers, a younger brother of 
the general, had been elected a few months before the time 
we write of, district attorney for North Mississippi. His 
home, Hernando, was frequently in the enemy's lines, there- 
fore, he did service as a volunteer aid, except when his court 
was in session. Major Chalmers, or as we familiarly called 
him, " Major Ham," was an exceedingly bright and tal- 
ented man. He was subsequently chief justice for Mis- 
sissippi. We introduce these gentlemen, because they 
figured quite prominently about that time. Mrs. Montgom- 
ery had a very bright, pretty daughter, who also had a troop 
of attractive young lady friends. A number of these were 
fine performers on the piano, and several of them were sweet 
vocalists. Herbert was an accomplished fiddler, and, there- 
fore, was in the "swim from start to finish." After dinner 



140 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

each day, the young ladies, to the number of seven or eight, 
would come over and listen to Herbert's violin. First one 
and then the other of them would accompany him on the 
piano, and frequently all hands would join in a song. We 
soon discovered that we were delightfully located. The 
young ladies invariably remained to supper, after which we 
again repaired to the parlor to enjoy the music and dancing. 
General Chalmers was the life of the party. His bright 
speeches and cultured manner gave a freedom to all present. 
There was no stiffness or formality. The young ladies were 
gracious and hospitable, and, except when we were on duty in 
the forenoon, the entire crowd was in the parlors forgetful of 
war or any other troubles. Major Chalmers also added to the 
pleasures and amusements of the company. Very naturally 
the young men of the party were soon " heels over head in 
love." Each was devoted to the girl of his choice, except 
that Mills and Lindsay were in love with the same beautiful 
little widow. Major Chalmers gave all the assistance and 
encouragement he could to the boys. He would pair them 
off and watch their progress, but he was taking mental notes 
all the while. A few evenings before we broke camp, he re- 
quested one of the ladies to play for him the accompaniment 
to ' ' The Hog-eye Man, " and he would sing them a song. He 
surprised us by singing the following : 

THE STARKVILLE GIRLS. 
Air : Hog Eye-man. 
Of Starkville girls we sing the praise, 
How dear they are, how sweet their ways. 
Oh! Chalmers' staff will ne'er forget 
The day when first these girls thej met. 



TN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 141 

Chorus, 

The pretty little girls of Starkville, 
The pretty little girls of Starkville, 
Oh how they made our hearts to thrill, 
Those pretty little girls of Starkville. 

Oh, we "11 remember each dear one, 
And all the frolic and the fun. 
Where we forgot amid their charms 
This cruel war and its alarms. 

Chorus, 

Those pretty little girls, etc. 

Miss Eddins is a stately queen, 

By Herbert's side she 's ever seen. 

There is nobody who can win 

Against the man with the violin. 

Chorus, 

Those pretty little girls, etc. 

Miss Thompson's music can't be beat; 

She gave to us a splendid treat. 

Her touch is firm, her voice is sweet, 

Her equal we will never meet. 

Chorus, 

Those pretty little girls, etc. 

And then there is Miss Sallie Glenn, 
Who plays the wiles with all the men. 
Of handsome beaus she has no lack, 
From Mississip' to Rackansack. 
Chorus. 

Those pretty little girls, etc. 

Who can forget Miss Stella fair. 
Her grace so sweet and beauty rare. 
Oh! his will be a happy life 
Who wins this jewel for his wife. 



142 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

Chorus, 

Those pretty little girls, etc. 

What shall we say of Mrs. Nash? 

Of all our hearts she made a smash. 

Most of us know not what to do, 

For two, at least, " went up the flue." 

Chorus, 

This pretty little widow of Starkville, 
This pretty little widow of Starkville. 
Oh, how she made our hearts to thrill, 
That pretty little widow of Starkville. 

Poor Lindsay died in life's young spring. 
And to his grave these flowers we bring, 
While tougher Mills with many a gash, 
Still lives to sing of Mrs. Nash. 
Chorus, 

This pretty' little widow, etc. 

And now, we 've sung of all but one; 

Her name is Nannie Middleton. 

In beaut3''s deck she is a trump — 

She knocked the flinders out of Crump. 

Chorus, 

Those pretty little girls, etc. 

Of course it was immensely popular, and very soon the 
whole party sang the major's song. It gave the young ladies 
more pleasure than all the wooing the boys had done in the 
past several days. The following evening the young ladies 
gave notice that they would sing an original song themselves. 
After supper, quite a crowd, ten or more girls, collected 
about the piano and sang the following to the tune of "Bob- 
bing x\round : " 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 143 

General Chalmers came to town. 
Bobbing around, around, and around. 
He and his staff do things up brown. 
As they go bobbing around 

Then there is the general's brother, 
Bobbing around, around, and around. 
But he 's not very much like t' other. 
As he goes bobbing around. 

A brave soldier Capt'n Goodman is. 
Bobbing around, around, and around. 
A home and pretty wife are his, 
While he goes bobbing around. 

And then there 's Colonel Casey. Young, 
Bobbing around, around, and around. 
His praises are on many a tongue, 
As he goes bobbing around. 

Now Herbert comes, and Crump, and Mills, 
Bobbing around, around, and around. 
They 've crossed the valleys and the hills. 
As the}' go bobbing around. 

O'Neil is good and so is Banks, 
Bobbing around, around, and around. 
They win the ladies' smiles and thanks. 
As they go bobbing around. 

There 's Lindsay, who no duty shuns. 
Bobbing around, around, and around. 
And Dinkins, who from ladies runs, 
And all go bobbing around. 

We know each one will cut a swell, 
Bobbing around, around, and around. 



144 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

But we, alas ! must sav farewell, 
While thej '11 go bobbing around. 

Oh 1 how we wish that they would stay, 
Bobbing around, around, and around. 
For they will take our hearts away. 
And go on bobbing around. 

The following day General Forrest sent a message to General 
Chalmers requesting his presence at Cokmibus. Orders were 
given our servants to have the horses ready at eight a. m. 
We gave notice of the intended departure. The young 
ladies were unusually attractive that night, and we lingered 
in the parlors until after twelve. 

The intention was to say good-bye, but Crimip and Lindsay 
insisted that the ceremony should be postponed until morning. 
The hour had arrived. It was a memorable scene to us 
Our stay had been so pleasant it was with difficulty we tore 
ourselves away. Finally the general said: "Young gende- 
men, we must be going." We followed him. He was 
mounted on his little sorrel thoroughbred, The girls waived 
their handkerchiefs, and said: " Good-bye, good-bye." The 
general, no doubt, conscious of the delightful entertainment 
we had enjoyed, allowed the little sorrel too easy a rein. He 
was the best and fastest saddle animal in the army, and hun- 
dreds of men of Chalmers' division will recollect him. The 
little sorrel felt good. He went skimming over the road in 
a running walk, that forced the rest of us to gallop, except 
Colonel Young's colt ; he was walking. We reached Colum- 
bus for dinner, and found comfortable quarters at the beau- 
tiful home of Colonel Pope, where we met numbers of re- 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM!'. 145 

fined and cultivated people. Most of us endured the separa- 
tion from Starkville friends without complaint, though Mills and 
Lindsay spent most of the time in solitude. The litde widow 
had charmed them. They longed to go back for a day, but 
were ashamed to ask for permission. They were rivals and 
could not comfort each other. They were miserable, but 
time and distance cures all such aches. They survived many 
years, and married other girls. 

While at Columbus, our force was augmented by a small 
brigade of Kentuckians under command of General Abe 
Buford. The second division of Forrest's cavalry was 
formed, consisting of two brigades. The first commanded 
by Colonel A. P. Thompson, and the second by Colonel T. 
H. Bell. Both brigades mustered twenty-eight hundred 
effective men. General Buford was given command of the 
second division. This occurred on March 8, 1864. Soon 
afterward General Forrest decided to destroy Sherman's 
communications. He left Columbus with Buford's division 
and the Seventh Tennessee and McDonald's battalion of 
Chalmers' division, about the middle of March. He moved 
directly to Sherman's rear, capturing a number of block 
houses and garrisons, accomplishing wonderful feats of 
diplomacy, and destroying over a million dollars worth of 
supplies. On the 13th of March he ordered General Chal- 
mers to post his division along the Tallahatchie, and protect 
the country from raids and marauding parties, which were in 
the habit of going out from Memphis. General Chalmers 
made his headquarters at Grenada. He established a picket 
line along the Coldwater river. While the commands were 
camped on the south bank of the Tallahatchie, Henderson's 



146 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

scouts operated around Memphis in advance of the picket 
line. Captain Thomas Henderson, who commanded the 
scouts, was a man of unusual capacity, and, though lame 
from a wound he had formerly received, was as active on 
horseback as the best of them. General Chalmers sent 
Lieutenant Bleecker with a squad of ten men on March 24th 
to scout in the vicinity of the Memphis and Charleston 
Railroad. His instructions were to find Captain Henderson 
and confer with him. Captain Henderson was near Byhalia, 
and proceeded with Lieutenant Bleecker to Germantown, 
and they remained two or three days in the neighborhood. 
While there they heard of Forrest's destruction of the gar- 
risons along Sherman's lines of communication. The men 
were scouting for news, and Captain Henderson suggested 
that it would be better for Lieutenant Bleecker and himself 
to go back to the Byhalia neighborhood, so that the scouts 
operating in the vicinity of the Mississippi river could reach 
them quickly. They reached a farm house (the house of 
Mrs. Williams) at noon, and were invited to stop for dinner. 
There was a grove around the front of the house, inclosed by 
a strong rail fence. The "big gate " was some two hundred 
yards from the house, which was inclosed in a picket fence. 
The garden to the rear of the house- had also a high picket 
fence around it. The captain and lieutenant hitched their 
horses on the inside of the yard fence. They were enjoying 
a good meal, when Miss Williams, who faced the " big gate," 
said, "There come the Yankees, run quickly." Lieutenant 
Bleecker reached the horses in less time than it takes to 
write it, unhitched both, mounted his own, and led Captain 
Henderson's to him. About one hundred of the enemy 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 147 

were racing through the grove toward the house. In the 
meantime Captain Henderson and Bleecker mounted and 
flew toward the garden. That was the only hope of escape. 
As they turned the corner of the house they saw Miss 
Williams holding the gate open. The Yankees were firing 
their carbines and crying halt. The bullets whizzed about 
them, and many struck the fence near where Miss Williams 
stood. Into the garden they rode, Lieutenant Bleecker 
ahead. There was little hope of the horses clearing the 
fence, but it was worth a trial. Lieutenant Bleecker rode 
a large bay, by no means a good jumper, nor was he a fast 
runner, but the sharp spurs striking his sides made him do 
his best. The fence was fully six feet high. As he reached 
it, Bleecker raised himself in the stirrups for the jump. It 
is known that a horse in jumping gathers his legs under his 
body and throws them forward just as he alights. Bleecker's 
horse went at the fence, striking the top railing with his 
breast, and knocked down the entire panel, falling with it. 
Captain Henderson was riding a better horse, which cleared 
Bleecker and his horse as they fell. Both were up, however, 
in two seconds, and followed Captain Henderson into the 
woods, making their escape. Captain Henderson when 
riding carried his crutch on his arm. After reaching a safe 
distance they halted, and discovered the crutch had the lower 
end shot off. With this exception neither of them was 
struck. They remained in the woods until night, and rode 
back to ascertain what the enemy proposed doing, and found 
they had returned to Memphis. It was a scouting party, 
sent out to catch any rebels who might be found in the 
country. 



148 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

Lieutenant Bleecker, on the 29th of March, returned to 
Grenada, with the information that no preparations were be- 
ing made for an immediate movement. About the 2d of 
April, Captain Henderson reported that Grierson would 
leave Memphis in a few days to go in the direction of Bald- 
win, thence through the prairie country. General Chalmers, 
in order to prevent Grierson from doing so, moved into West 
Tennessee with all his force, except four companies left to 
guard the crossings. Grierson left Memphis, knowing that 
General Chalmers was north of him, and proceeded toward 
Okalona. General Forrest was at the same time returning 
from his raid. Colonel Crews, with McDonald's Battalion, 
met Grierson, and attacked him with so much vigor that he 
returned to Memphis. Lieutenant Bleecker did not see the 
fight made by McDonald's Battalion on that occasion, there- 
fore, can not remember the details sufficiently to do justice 
to those heroic and invincible men, but it was represented 
as a brilliant fight, and some one of that band should write 
it up. 

It had been raining heavily for two days before General 
Chalmers reached Rocky Ford, where he crossed the Talla- 
hatchie, and the river was so swollen that we were delayed 
several hours before it was low enough to cross. The men 
lounged about, grazing their horses, telling stories, and whiling 
away the time in pleasantry and freedom. 

Colonel Casey Young was displaying a two dollar green- 
back, when Lieutenant J. A. Taylor (the late lamented United 
States district attorney for West Tennessee) remarked that he 
had a dollar greenback. Colonel Young proposed to play 
Taylor a game of seven-up for both bills. It was agreed and 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM2'. 149 

they straddled a log for the contest. Crowds of men gathered 
about to watch the game, displaying as much interest as men 
usually do at a horse race. The crowd was divided ; both 
gentlemen had their backers and partisans. Bets were offered 
by the Young men, which were taken by the Taylor men, 
and vice versa. There was nothing to do but pass the time 
while we waited for the river to fall, therefore the game of 
seven-up was interesting. The cards were dealt and the 
money laid on the log. They played several hands and 
stood. Young six, Taylor three. Another deal by Young; 
both picked up the cards. Young was bold and aggressive; 
Taylor carefully scanned his hand, his face a study. The in- 
terest was intense. Probably never in their lives before, and 
maybe never afterward, was it greater. There was a strong 
probability that Taylor would lose his dollar. Not only the 
dollar, but his reputation was at stake. He changed the 
position of his cards repeatedly. The crowd grew larger 
and larger to watch the game. Men bet all they had on the 
result. The queen of hearts was turned up. Taylor held 
jack, ace and three of hearts, ace and four of clubs, and king 
of spades. A little tow-headed boy who lived in the neigh- 
borhood was looking on. He passed to the rear of Taylor 
and saw his hand, then went over and looked at Young's hand. 
He knew that Taylor was behind. He no doubt felt a sym- 
pathy for him. Young was firing into Taylor and aggravating 
him in every conceivable way. The boy took a second care- 
ful look at Young's hand, and said to Taylor, " Mister, don't 
you be feared, he aynt got nary one." The words barely 
passed his lips, when the colonel slapped him entirely over, 
and fell off the log himself, which saved the bov. I think 



150 PERSOXAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC , 

he would have thrown him in the river had he caught him. 
But the boy was fleet and reaUzed the value of the gift just 
at that time. The hand was played. Taylor made high, 
low, jack, and game. A yell went up from Taylor's crowd 
as he raked in the greenbacks. 

The tow-headed boy, who had been watching from a safe 
distance, hallowed out, "I'm glad unit; I'm glad un it." 
Every thing was lost to Colonel Young, except the colt and 
"Uncle Bedney." His reputation was gone. He felt he 
was ruined. He had practiced seven-up by the dim light of 
the camp-fire, had made a reputation, and had nursed it 
tenderly, but, like all things earthly, it was swept away. 
These reflections no doubt passed through his mind as he 
walked over where " Uncle Bedney" stood grazing the colt. 
The tow-headed boy recognized him, and said again, "I'm 
durned glad un it." But he was sorry that minute he said it. 
He smelled sulphur and brimstone. Great volumes rolled 
out of the colonel's mouth. Taylor was the hero of the 
hour. His crowd followed him about, offering to back him 
with all they had. 

We soon crossed the river and moved toward Jackson, 
where in a few days we met General Forrest, with the Sev- 
enth Tennessee and McDonald's Battalion. He reached us 
in advance of Buford's division. We spent several days very 
pleasantly at Jackson. General Forrest was told by citizens 
living in the direction of Fort Pillow, that bands of Federal 
and negro soldiers made frequent raids through the country, 
robbing people of any thing they could find, and insulting in 
the grossest possible manner any lady who protested against 
their action. The negro soldiers were especially insulting to 



JN THE CONFEDERATE ARMr. 151 

the wives and families of Confederate soldiers. In some 
cases, they committed an unpardonable, brutish, and fiendish 
crime on ladies. Numbers of our men lived in that country, 
and they joined in the appeal to General Forrest to give 
them protection. He decided to do so, and early on the 
morning of April ii, 1864, General Chalmers, with McCul- 
loch's and Bell's brigades and Walton's battery, marched out 
to clear the country of the rascals. Before day on the morn- 
ing of April 1 2th, we halted in front of Fort Pillow. It had 
been raining all night, and was so dark it was difficult to keep 
the road, or even see the men beside you. The advance 
guard was accompanied by an old gentleman who lived near 
Fort Pillow. He was thoroughly acquainted with the ground. 
The advance guard passed around to the rear of the Federal 
pickets, who were captured without firing a gun, and as soon 
as this was accomplished, General Chalmers pressed rapidly 
forward with McCulloch's brigade and took possession of the 
outer works. These ditches were built by our own people, 
before Fort Pillow fell into the hands of the Federals. In- 
side of them, other and better works had been thrown up. 
General Chalmers directed McCulloch to extend his lines 
toward the river, and Bell was sent on the north side, with 
instructions to open the fight, which would engage the atten- 
tion of the enemy and enable McCulloch to advance and secure 
a position under the enemy's guns. Bell could not, however, 
make the attack as soon as was expected, on account of the 
very rough ground, so General Chalmers ordered "Colonel 
Black Bob" to advance. He did so, and secured the pro- 
tection of a lot of cabins just outside the fort. Just at that 
time General Forrest reached us. He conferred with Gen- 



152 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

eral Chalmers, who advised him of the situation. The enemy 
felt perfectly secure, and had no idea that any force could 
successfully storm their position. They waved their hats, 
telling our men: "Come on, you dirty rebels." The negro 
soldiers were particularly offensive in offering banters. 

General Forrest saw the invitations and banters, and de- 
termined to accommodate the scoundrels. He ordered the 
line to advance, and our men pushed forward across the gul- 
lies and over the rough ground, under a heavy fire from the 
fort. The negro soldiers had been given all the whisky they 
could drink, and were told that no rebel troops could ever 
enter Fort Pillow. They exposed themselves above the 
works, firing at our line, and cursing and daring us to come 
on. We reached the ditch just under the big fort, which 
was below the big guns, and so near them that they could not 
be depressed sufficiently to damage us. While in this posi- 
tion. General Forrest said to General Chalmers: "We better 
give them a chance to surrender." General Chalmers then 
said to Captain W. A. Goodman, his adjutant-general : " Tie 
your handkerchief on a stick, and we will put you over the 
wall. Tell Major Booth, General Forrest desires to avoid 
any sacrifice of life, and therefore will give him an oppor- 
tunity to surrender. If he refuses, say to him, the men are 
in no humor to be brought face to face with the negro sol- 
diers who have insulted their families." Captain Goodman 
found that Major Booth had been killed, and that a Major 
W. F. Bradford, of the Thirteenth Tennessee Battalion, was 
in command. Bradford delayed his answer fully an hour, 
believing, no doubt, that the firing had attracted the attention 
of some of the Federal gun-boats, and that they would come 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 153 

to his assistance. General P^orrest knew his game, and at 
the expiration of an hour, said: "Tell him I will give him 
twenty minutes, and that is all I will give. If he does not 
surrender, I will not be responsible for the conduct of my 
men. Tell him this plainly." While we waited for the end 
of the twenty minutes, and it seemed about two hours, we 
could see the smoke from several boats coming up the 
river. As the front boat turned the bend, we saw she was 
loaded with troops. There was also a gun-boat anchored out 
in the river. She was the " New Era." She did not move, 
but the steamboat passed by the fort, loaded with infantry 
and a battery of artillery. The negroes in the fort looked 
down at us, and snarled and cursed the rebels. Finally, 
Captain Goodman, at the end of the time granted, returned 
to say they would not surrender. General Forrest, up to 
this time, did not seem to be much concerned or in any wise 
disturbed, but he changed in a second. He said : " General 
Chalmers, tell your men to plant their flags on that cursed 
fort, and take what they find." He moved along the line in 
the ditch, talking to the men, saying: "At 'em! at 'em!" 
He was the incarnation of all the destructive powers on 
earth. He was to a battle what a cyclone is to an April 
shower. His voice could be heard by the Yankees. No 
doubt they trembled, as later events proved. 

The guns on the fort looked savage. General Chalmers 
told McCulloch to designate one regiment to open on the 
fort and keep the enemy back, while the balance went over 
the bank. General Forrest called out: " Blow the charge, 
Gaus, blow the charge." The impetuosity of the attack was 
remarkable. The men had stood by and heard and saw what 



154 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

was going on. Their families and friends had been insulted 
and outraged. They were ready and eager to avenge those 
wrongs, and, before the enemy had any thought on the sub- 
ject, those ragged rebels were climbing and pushing each 
other over the wall. The outside of the fort was in ridges, 
caused by heavy rains washing out gullies. These afforded 
hand holds to the men in climbing up. As soon as our men 
began to mount the top of the fort, the garrison took to their 
heels. They wanted to reach the water's edge, so they could 
secure the protection of the gun-boat. They had been told 
that the rebels could not get over the works and into the 
fort, and did not believe they could, but the sight of the 
"Johnnies" was a flat contradiction of the blustering lie. 
They ran with all their speed. Our men called on them to 
halt, firing at them as they ran. Not one, however, would 
halt, unless a bullet caught him. They ran to the high bluff 
and jumped over. Those who did never knew what the end 
was. They were too flat to bury. The gun-boat made no 
effort to help them, neither did the steamboat, with the 
troops on board, make a landing. ^Vhy, we could never im- 
agine. They could have made it awfully hot for us. The 
negroes went over the bluff like sheep going through a gate. 
They would jump as high as they could. They would not 
surrender. Both Generals Forrest and Chalmers, seeing the 
panic, called on the men to cease firing, and after a few min- 
utes succeeded in restoring order. From the time Captain 
Goodman reported, until the fight was over, it was not ex- 
ceeding ten minutes. Numbers of the garrison were drowned. 
Those who reached the river never stopped, but plunged in. 
They were frightened out of all reason. After the fight. 



AV THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 155 

General Forrest requested the officers of the gun-boat to 
come ashore and bury their dead, and take the wounded; 
but no, sir, they would not land among that crowd. We had 
not over eighteen hundred men, while the enemy had about 
seven hundred men in the seemingly impregnable fort. Our 
loss was nearly one hundred killed and wounded. 

After the capture, General Forrest returned to Jackson, 
saying to General Chalmers : " See that the dead are buried, 
and the wounded cared for, then burn every thing." The 
Yankee soldiers and negroes, both dead and wounded, were 
lying as they had fallen. General Chalmers had those of the 
prisoners who were not wounded, and also some of our own 
men at work burying the dead. Some of the negroes, smarter 
than the others, were lying flat on their faces, pretending to 
be dead. When one of them was reached, the men began to 
dig his grave near where he lay. He raised his head just a 
little, and said: " Marster, for God's sake, spare me; I 
didn't want to leave home; dey 'scripted me. Spare me, 
marster, and take me home. Dey 'scripted me." He was 
spared, and many others in the same way. In fact, not one of 
the garrison, white or black, was mistreated. But I believe 
that any other people, under similar circumstances, would 
have killed every negro in the fort. The feeling which a 
Southern man has for a negro is difficult for others to under- 
stand. He was regarded then as a piece of property, and 
when he did wrong was treated in the same way that a re- 
fractory horse or child would be. He must be brought into 
subjection, after which there was no feeling of bitterness. 
Our men felt outraged, and killed every rascal as long as 



156 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

they resisted or ran. But, when they had been captured, 
they were as safe as they could have been anywhere. 

After the destruction of Fort Pillow, we moved via Jack- 
son to Okalona. The command had been actively engaged 
for some time, and the beautiful prairies of East Mississippi, 
with plenty of corn and fodder, were just what the men and 
horses needed. 






J^ 







i V 






Y :^ 






/ 



/ 



"Oh, Girls! the one in the middle has got on a Corset. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM2\ 157 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

A Season of Rest in the Rich Mississippi Prairies— The 
Battle of Brice's Cross Roads— A Jackson Girl Ac- 
cuses Bleecker of Wearing a Corset — A Tournament 
at Egypt— General Sturges Promises to Capture 
Forrest— The Death of Billy Pope. 

The news that Fort Pillow had been destroyed gave happi- 
ness to thousands of people. It had been a place where the 
worst class of negroes and other disreputable characters con- 
gregated. On the march toward Okalona, the people along 
the road cheered the men and praised them for the work 
they had done. General Chalmers, with his staff and es- 
cort, rode ahead to Jackson, remaining there a day and night, 
and stopping at the hotel. The young men of the staff, 
Bleecker, Taylor, and Lindsay, while strolling through the 
town, passed a place where there were several pretty girls 
standing at the gate. Bleecker always wore his coat closely 
buttoned. He was walking between Lindsay and Taylor. 
After they passed, one of the girls remarked: "Oh, girls, 
that one in the middle has got on a corset." Then they all 
laughed heartily. Bleecker never had his manhood so criti- 
cised and shocked before. He knew he was short in many re- 
spects. He knew he had committed sundry errors, but to 
be accused, or even suspected, of wearing a corset, was a 
little more than he was prepared to stand. Taylor and Lind- 
say rasped him, and told the general and other members of 
the staff, what the girls had said. Bleecker had warm friends in 



158 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS. ETC., 

the escort company. They guyed him. He felt that life had 
become a burden. He prided himself on his horsemanship. 
He was an expert with a six-shooter. He had seen three 
years' service in the army, but to have it said he wore a 
corset, knocked all the egotism, pride, and confidence out of 
him. 

On reaching Okalona, we went into camp. The citizens 
were glad to welcome Forrest's cavalry back. There was 
plenty of forage for the horses, and plenty of bread and meat 
for the men. General Chalmers made his headquarters at 
the home of Colonel W. G. Henderson. Colonel Henderson 
formerly belonged to the Army of Northern Virginia, but was 
now the colonel of the Fifth Mississippi. Mrs. Henderson was 
an intelligent, accomplished and attractive woman, and, withal, 
a good housekeeper. She gave us the best table fare we had 
known for many a day, and there was plenty of it, too. Colonel 
Henderson, himself a soldier, knew what a good appetite re- 
quired, and Mrs. Henderson doubtless measured ours by his. 
We spent a delightful two weeks there, after which General 
Chalmers moved near Egypt Station on the Mobile and Ohio 
Railroad, where forage was abundant. He made his head- 
quarters at the hospitable home of Colonel English. There 
we had ham, and lamb, and strawberry jam. Mrs. English 
had a good garden, plenty of rich milk and butter, and all 
the accessories to make us happy. The weather was warm 
and beautiful. Living near Colonel English was an elegant 
family, the McQuistons. There were two young ladies in the 
family, and Mrs. English also had a little miss not yet grown. 
Through the kindness of Miss Maggie English, all hands 
made the acquaintance of Miss McQuiston and Miss Fanny, 



/A' THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 159 

her sister, who added greatly to the pleasures of the party. 
While the command rested in that charming neighborhood, 
some of the men in the Second Missouri, joined by several of 
Willis' Texas Battalion, concluded to have a tournament, ^but 
of a different kind from the ordinary sort. The ground was 
selected near a grove in front of which there was a pretty 
stretch of road, where the riders could be seen in the after- 
noon practicing for the occasion. There were no posts with 
projections holding the rings, and there were no lances to be 
used, but the rings, covered with red cloth, were placed on 
the ground fifty feet apart. The distance to be ridden was 
one hundred yards, to be made in ten seconds, and the 
rings picked up with the hand. Fully twenty-five gallant fel- 
lows spent the afternoon trying to catch the rings as they 
flew by on their horses. The event attracted much attention, 
and there were a number of ladies from Aberdeen, seven 
miles distant, to witness the display of horsemanship. The 
soldiers made seats for the spectators in the shade of the 
trees, and built a platform on which the " Queen of Love and 
Beauty " should be crowned. 

When the day arrived, the contestants, reduced to sixteen, 
were on hand. Colonel A'. H. Chalmers, Lieutenant-colonel 
Robert A. McCuUoch, and adjutant Wm. S. Pope, of the 
Seventh Tennessee, were selected as judges. The knights 
were arranged in order and Colonel Willis, the Grand Mar- 
shal, announced the rules and called for the first knight. 
Each one was entitled to three tilts. The knight handing to 
the judge the greatest number of rings, should select and 
crown the " Queen of Love and Beauty." It was a rare 
sight to witness the recklessness of these men and boys. 



160 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

They dashed over the space as fast as their horses could take 
them, hanging suspended by the left foot, which rested behind 
the cantel of the saddle, dragging the right hand on the 
ground. Each knight was cheered, which inspired the next 
rider to try some new feature. It was great fun. The ladies 
never saw any thing Uke it before. After the tilting, the 
judges announced that Lieutenant Bleecker captured six 
rings, which was one more than the number returned by any 
other knight, and he would, therefore, crown the queen. 
The announcement elicited hearty cheers from the crowd, 
both soldiers and citizens, because Bleecker was the youngest 
among the contestants. After the announcement by the 
judges, the marshal, followed by all the knights, rode in 
column before the platform, and halted, facing the audience. 
Colonel Willis called Bleecker to the front, but he did not 
move. He said: "Colonel Willis, let some one else go." 
But Colonel Willis forced him up to the stand, and told him 
to choose his queen, at the same time handing him a wreath 
of flowers. 

Bleecker sat on his little sorrel, frightened nearly to death. 
He whispered to Colonel Willis, hoping no one would hear 
the name. The colonel called in a loud voice: "Will Miss 
Fannie McQuiston please come to the stand." Miss Fannie 
had no idea of going, but her friends finally made her do so. 
Bleecker had known Miss Fannie only a short time, but he 
had a high regard for her. She was being escorted to the 
stand by Colonel Chalmers ; Bleecker waited until they were 
within ten feet of the stand, when he threw the crown to her, 
and put spurs to his horse. He was out of sight before any one 
knew what he was about. But' that was not the end of the 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 161 

performance. General Chalmers scolded him roundly, and 
declared he would never introduce him to another girl. 
Bleecker was more to be pitied than censured, however, for 
he did not have sufficient nerve. He could face armed foes 
in battle, but he could not face a bevy of smiling and beautiful 
girls. 

Toward the latter part of May, 1864, General Chalmers 
was ordered to move to Monte Vallo, Alabama, to defend 
the iron works, on the North and South Alabama Railroad, 
against a raid supposed to be contemplated for their destruc- 
tion. We remained in that section for a few days, and about 
the loth of June, received orders to move back to Columbus 
with all possible dispatch. Every thing was gotten ready, 
and we began the march the following morning. General 
Sturgis, in the meantime, with a finely-equipped army of nine 
thousand cavalry and infantry, twenty-five pieces of artillery, 
and several hundred wagons, left Memphis to clean up For- 
rest, and destroy our bread supply, a feat which several 
Federal generals had started out to accomplish, but none had 
succeeded in performing. General Sturgis stated to a lady, 
at whose house near Salem he remained all night on his down 
trip, that he was after Forrest this time, and if he would stand 
up and give a chance, and not run away, he would destroy his 
command and bring Forrest back a prisoner. The lady re- 
plied: "Look out, he may send you back running." But the 
general laughed, and said: " No danger, and do not be sur- 
prised if I stop on my return with Forrest a prisoner." The 
proud and confident general moved his army forward in 
military order, with every thing in proper trim. There was 
not a suspicion of doubt on his mind. He knew he had 



162 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC.. 

three times as many men as Forrest, and he also had a 
splendid artillery battalion. He therefore went forth full of 
confidence. It will be remembered that General Chalmers, 
with McCuUoch's brigade, was away in Alabama, so that 
Forrest only had Buford's division and Rucker's brigade, 
some three thousand all told, to meet that picked army, and 
its haughty and boastful commander. The forces met at 
what is called Brice's Cross Roads, where the Ripley and 
Guntown roads intersect, four miles west of Baldwin, a sta- 
tion on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. In General Sturgis' 
command were two regiments of negroes, who had taken an 
oath on their knees before leaving Memphis, in the presence 
of General Hurlbut, that they would avenge Fort Pillow. 
That they would take no prisoners. They wore badges on 
their breasts, " Remember Fort Pillotv. Death to Forrest and 
his men.'''' Our men were not aware of this, however, until 
during the fight, they saw running negroes tearing their 
badges off as they ran. 

General Forrest struck Sturgis unawares. He rushed at 
his column and whipped him before he could gather his 
forces. Our old ragged boys were feeling good that summer 
morning. If the story of each individual could be told, the 
acts of bravery and daring would fill a book. Better soldiers 
never faced an enemy than those who met Sturgis at Brice's 
Cross Roads. There was no hesitation, but when the order 
was given to charge, each man went to work as if the result 
depended on his mdividual efforts. They charged in front 
and on the flank. The advance guard of Sturgis was thrown 
back in great confusion on his main column. His cavalry 
rampled down his infantry, followed by the invincible band, 



AV THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 163 

of Forrest, which rode them to death or capture. Wagons 
were capsized, the horses cut loose and used to escape on. 
The artillery was tumbled against trees or left in the road. 
There was never such a panic and such a rout before. Most 
of the cavalry escaped, but the infantry were either killed, 
wounded, or captured. The negroes, such as were not 
killed, took to the woods and ran for their lives. They tore 
their badges off and threw them away. The oath they took 
before leaving Memphis must have been taken with a reser- 
vation. Our loss was serious, about one hundred and thirty 
killed and some five hundred wounded. We lost some grand 
and glorious men, whose names should be written on the 
lintels of the eternal city. The enemy's loss was terrible. 
One thousand nine hundred and seventy killed, besides the 
loss of over two thousand prisoners, including the wounded, 
fully one thousand more than Forrest's entire force. We 
also captured twenty pieces of artillery, twenty-one caissons, 
and two hundred and thirty wagons, besides all his ambu- 
lances. 

There was a gallant boy who yielded up his life on that 
day who deserves a page in history. He was bright and 
handsome, brave and generous, loved by his comrades, and 
worshiped by a devoted mother and sister. He carried hap- 
piness into every circle he entered, and won the confidence 
of all he met. He was as pure as the rose-bud glistening 
with the dews of the morning. He gave his life for a cause 
which did not succeed, but his name will be remembered, 
and his memory will be cherished. He was killed in the 
discharge of duty while he rode at the head of his regi- 
ment. This hero was "Billy Pope," adjutant of the Seventh 



164 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

Tennessee. Billy and the writer were warm friends. We 
often talked of home and mothers. Farewell, Billy, may we 

" Meet bevond the river, where the surges cease to roll." 

The pursuit was kept up as long as human endurance 
permitted. The news of the defeat reached Salem before 
General Sturgis did, and the lady was standing at the gate to 
see if he had General Forrest. When he left her his uniform 
was bright and new, but when he returned he was covered 
with mud. His horse was exhausted, and both presented 
the appearance of defeat and disaster. The lady asked : 
"General, did you find General Forrest?" "No," General 
Sturgis replied, " but he found me ! " 

The battle of Brice's Cross Roads was one of the most 
brilliant feats in the annals of war. There will probably 
never again occur such a victory. The future may develop 
great generals, but none will approach Forrest as a brave, 
dashing soldier. In the humble opinion of the writer, he was 
the greatest military man who ever lived, and the future will 
hardly see his like. The South will enjoy the distinction of 
having developed two remarkable characters. The first was 
Forrest, the only commander of an army in the world's his- 
tory who never suffered defeat. The second was General 
Joseph E. Johnson, the only commander of an army known 
in history who never won a victory. 

Chalmers' division remained at Columbus until the first 
of July, then moved to Tupelo. Buford's division was at 
Pontotoc. General A. J. Smith, sorely hurt by the defeat 
of General Sturgis, decided to break up that nest of hornets 
down in Mississippi. He left Memphis, about July the 3d, 



IN THE COSFEDERATE ARMY. 165 

with an army of fifteen thousand men. General S. D. Lee 
at this time assumed personal command of all the troops 
in Alabana and North Mississippi, his forces numbering 
some eight thousand men, including about nine hundred in- 
fantry brought from Mobile. Chalmers' division was at the 
point where the Houston and Pontotoc roads cross, the 
enemy marching southward. 



166 PERSOiVAL RECOLLECTIONS. ETC. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

General A. J. Smith Captures and Burns Oxford — 
Gallant Defense made by General Chalmers — The 
Enemy Burn the Home of Jacob Thompson. 

On July 7, 1864, General A. J. Smith, with his army, 
reached Ripley, Miss. He was met by our pickets, who 
skirmished with his advance until he reached New Albany. 
Smith's forces burned or destroyed every thing in their path. 
Lone chimneys and piles of ashes, covering a scope ten 
miles wide, marked the desolation he made. McCulloch 
was sent to Pontotoc on July the loth, and was soon after- 
ward joined by General Chalmers, with Rucker's brigade. 
General Chalmers was instructed to detain the advance of the 
enemy as long as possible. Buford, in the meantime, with 
his division, was engaged in watching Smith's left flank. 
We had fallen back about four or five miles south of Ponto- 
toc, where we camped on the night of July 12th. The fol- 
lowing morning, General S. D. Lee, accompanied by General 
Forrest, reached our position. General Lee decided to give 
battle. We learned that the enemy was moving toward the 
east. General Forrest, with his escort and a small force, 
went in pursuit, hoping to hold him until our command could 
get up. We moved under General Lee through the woods, 
expecting to strike Smith on the flank, but he moved faster 
than we could, and reached Tupelo without much hinderance. 
On the morning of July 14, 1S64, he occupied a range of 



IN THE CONFEDERATE AH Ml'. 167 

hills at Harrisburg, where he had advantage in position of 
any force that might oppose him. He had built breast -works 
during the night, by stringing a lot of logs around his camp, 
and these he covered with dirt. However, General Lee de- 
termined to attack him, and told General Forrest to prepare 
for battle. Buford sent his skirmish line forward and opened 
the fight. Chalmers' division was held as a second line. 
There was some delay in Roddy's going to the attack, there- 
fore Buford struck the enemy's center, and was driven back. 
Then Bell and Mabry moved forward, but were also driven 
back. General Chalmers moved Rucker's brigade to support 
Mabry, and sent McCuUoch to support Buford. Those gal- 
lant fellows charged to within fifty yards of the enemy's 
works, but were driven back. McCulloch and Rucker, both 
fine brigade commanders, distinguished themselves on that 
hot July day. Rucker was twice seriously wounded before 
leaving the field. General Chalmers, by his bravery and 
daring, saved his division from panic. Fully one-third of 
both brigades were killed or wounded. It was apparent to 
all the men that we could not drive General Smith from his 
position. His force was nearly double ours, while he was 
strongly entrenched on a naturally strong position. Soon 
after noon. General Lee ordered the whole command to fall 
back, and we remained in line until about night, when the 
Federals burned the little town of Harrisburg. General 
Chalmers, with McCulloch's brigade, was ordered to again 
advance, but was driven back, and both armies spent the 
night in about the same position they occupied in the morn- 
ing. Next day, General Lee moved the whole force near to 
Tupelo, intending to make fight, in case the enemy came out 



168 PERSOXAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

of his strong position. We waited anxiously, and about ten 
o'clock the scouts reported the enemy was in full retreat. 
General Lee ordered General Chalmers to press them, which 
he did. General Buford also moved forward, and rode into 
an ambuscade in the woods. Bell's brigade was badly cut 
up, but at this time General Forrest arrived with McCulloch's 
brigade, which he dismounted and charged through the 
woods, driving the enemy back. General Chalmers noticed 
an effort to flank Bell's position, when, with Kelly's regiment, 
he moved rapidly to the left, and checked the movement ; 
and, notwithstanding these men had been fighting for two 
days, they responded to General Chalmers' call, and rushed 
at the enemy with the fierceness of tigers. 

What a magnificent body of men those Tennessee boys 
were. General Forrest was wounded in the charge, as was 
also Colonel McCulloch, and both were compelled to quit 
the field, leaving the command to General Chalmers. Gen- 
eral Lee, in the meantime, remained at Tupelo, but when 
General Forrest reached him and reported the situation he 
joined General Chalmers. Night coming on, the pursuit 
was withdrawn. The morning of July i6th found our com- 
mand in the worst condition it had ever known, but General 
Lee ordered General Chalmers to follow with Rucker's and 
Roddy's brigades, which he did as well as he could, consider- 
ing the condition of the horses and men. General Smith 
retreated, but he left our command in no condition to follow 
him. The fight at Harrisburg was a great mistake. For- 
rest's cavalry had never been called on before to do an im- 
possible thing, and the men felt that they had been badly 
handled. We were whipped on the 14th at Harrisburg, and 



/A' THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 169 

again the following day near Town Creek. Forrest had 
always sought the weak point of the enemy, at which he 
could throw his whole power and create a stampede. Once 
on the run he pressed his advantage until he converted the 
stampede into a rout. His men were accustomed to his 
tactics, and when they were ordered to charge that fortified 
crest of hills, they moved forward confident of success. 
They knew our force was nothing like so large as the 
enemy's, but they were accustomed to disparity in numbers. 
They had several times routed three to one, and on this oc- 
casion there were only two to one against them. They did 
not doubt their ability, and even when nearly a third of their 
number had been killed or wounded they stood before those 
breast-works battering away at the enemy until ordered to 
withdraw. We lost about fifteen hundred true and brave 
men. When General Buford withdrew his command and all 
the firing had ceased, he rode away from the scene and stood 
alone under the shade of a large tree. General Forrest 
passing by asked where his command was. General Buford 
covered his face with his arm, and said: "I have no com- 
mand. They were all killed." He was deeply grieved, and 
in no condition to discuss the events of the battle at Harris- 
burg. 

Colonel McCulloch, after the fight on the 14th of July, 
superintended in person the care of his wounded. A man 
of large frame and strong face, who had met the enemy on 
probably a hundred fields, and was conspicuously known for 
his bravery and intrepidity, was then administering to his 
suffering comrades. His strong character had for the mo- 
ment lost its force. The tension had yielded, and he was a 



170 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC. 

child. His heart was larger than his body. He could not 
control his feelings. When he found those men who had left 
their homes in far away Missouri to follow his standard, men 
who had never failed to move forward when he led, when 
he found those men dead or wounded, he knelt over them 
and cried as if his heart would break. He said: " It was 
cruel. My poor boys were shot down like dogs." 

McCuUoch was painfully wounded on the following day. 
Had the entire force been sent against the enemy at the same 
moment, the result might have been different, but we fought 
in detail. Buford was whipped, then Mabry, then McCuUoch, 
then Rucker, and so on. General Lee returned to Meridian 
on the 17th. The command then devolved on General 
Chalmers. He sent his division to camp at Oakland Church, 
about eight miles from Egypt ; Buford to Egypt, Roddy to 
North Alabama, and the infantry was ordered back to Me- 
ridian. General Chalmers made his headquarters at Okalona. 
General Forrest was also at Okalona, at the house of Major 
Shepherd, suffering very much from the wound in his foot. 
The command remained in camp until August ist. In the 
meantime, General Chalmers ascertained that the enemy was 
organizing another expedition to leave Memphis, Vicksburg, 
and North Alabama simultaneously. He conferred with 
General Forrest, who suggested that he apprise General Lee 
of the fact, and he wrote General Lee advising that all 
the forces be concentrated on the column moving from 
Memphis. On August ist, the enemy had a force of fifteen 
thousand infantry and twenty-five pieces of artillery at 
La Grange, Tenn. General Chalmers sent McCulloch's 
brigade to Oxford, on August 2d. Two days later, General 



IN THE CONFEDERA TE ARMY. 171 

Forrest still suffering from his wounds, assumed command, 
and ordered General Chalmers to follow McCulloch's brigade 
and prevent the enemy from crossing the Tallahatchie if pos- 
sible. We reached Waterford on the 8th, and began to 
guard a river front of ten miles, against an army of ten times 
our numbers. McCuUoch and Rucker had both been 
wounded, as had been several field officers, and officers of 
the line. On August 8th, General A. J. Smith confronted us 
at Abbeyville with twenty thousand men. General Forrest, 
with the balance of the command, was moving with all pos. 
sible dispatch toward Oxford. The enemy had repaired 
the Mississippi Central Railroad as far south as the Talla- 
hatchie, and began crossing the river at that point. He 
shelled the whole country for a mile on the south of the 
river, and drove our few troops back into the woods. The 
Eighteenth Mississippi, Colonel A. H. Chalmers, was the only 
force opposing General Smith. Colonel Chalmers fell back 
to Hurricane creek, and constructed some rail breastworks. 
The balance of McCulloch's brigade went to his support. 
Before General Chalmers reached Hurricane creek, the 
Eighteenth Mississippi was hotly engaged skirmishing with 
the enemy. Colonel Chalmers, with great determination, 
held his position against an overwhelming force. The fol- 
lowing day the enemy moved his force forward, and used 
his big guns with dreadful effect on the timber. We fell 
back to Oxford, sternly contesting every foot of the ground. 
Before we reached Oxford, General Smith concluded to 
crush our little command, and pressed forward with consid- 
erable animation, and as soon as he came within range, be- 
gan to throw his big shells into the town. General Chalmers 



172 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

moved south, thinking General Hatch would follow with his 
cavalry, but the latter did not go farther than Oxford. The 
same night, the enemy returned to Hurricane creek, and soon 
afterward. General Forrest, with Bell and Mabry's brigades, 
and Morton's battery, entered Oxford, where General Chal- 
mers joined him the next morning. We advanced our line 
again to Hurricane creek, when the enemy made a vicious 
attack on us. Mabry's brigade was about to be overrun, and, 
but for the dash and courage of the Eighteenth Mississippi 
(such as was seldom surpassed by any troops), we would 
have lost our position. General Forrest knew it would not 
do to bring on an engagement, and, therefore, decided to re- 
sort to different tactics. He discussed with General Chal- 
mers what was best to be done, and decided to take part of 
the command and attack Memphis, while General Chalmers 
would draw the enemy as far south as he could. The home 
of the Hon. Jacob Thompson was just in the southern sub- 
urbs of the town. Here General Hatch made his head- 
quarters, when he followed us on the 9th. He entered the 
house univited, and went through it as if he had been the 
master. His coarse, uncultivated, and ungentlemanly man- 
ners, satisfied Mrs. Thompson that she could expect no pro- 
tection from his vandals. His men plundered every thing 
on the premises, and ruthlessly destroyed the carriage and 
other property. General Hatch sat in a large upholstered 
rocking chair in the handsomely furnished hall with big 
muddy boots on. Mrs. Thompson appealed to him to restrain 
his men. He answered with coarse and brutal language : 
" Let them go. They can take any thing they find, and do 
any thing they want, except take the chair I am sitting in." 



IJV THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 173 

Soon afterward, he thought it would be safer to have the 
protection of General Smith's infantry. He had his ambu- 
lance filled with pictures, silver plate, china, and such other 
article as he wanted, many of them of great value, and all 
of which he carried with him. 

Late in the afternoon of August i8, 1864, General Forrest, 
with some fifteen hundred men and two pieces of artillery, 
left Oxford for Memphis. General Chalmers remained at 
Oxford, and on the morning of the 19th, advanced all the 
picket lines, and made attacks on the enemy at every point. 
We were hotly engaged until the afternoon, when General 
Smith advanced his lines again. We fell back to a point 
about a mile north of Oxford, where we were reinforced by 
General Buford with his Kentucky brigade. It had been 
raining for several days, and the swollen condition of the 
creeks operated somewhat in our favor. Early on the 20th 
of August, General Chalmers again advanced his lines, and 
made a vicious rush at the Federals, driving them back to 
Hurricane creek. But the incessant rains raised the streams 
so high behind us, it was dangerous to remain so near the 
large force without the chance of falling back if it became 
necessary, so that on the 21st he again drove the enemy's 
picket line in, while he moved the wagons and got the com- 
mand under headway toward the south. In the meantime, 
Hatch, with a brigade of cavalry, was moving around, hoping 
to get in our rear. We fell back to Springdale, leaving the 
Seventh Tennessee at Oxford to watch and report the move- 
ment of the enemy. The Yankees entered Oxford the next 
morning, and burned the depot, court-house, and all empty 
buildings and houses. The individual men scattered over 



174 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

the town, setting fire to every place they passed. Nearly 
every business house in the town was burned, as well as some 
handsome residences. The beautiful home of Jacob Thomp- 
son was the special work for General A. J. Smith. He 
dignified the occasion by sending a detachment in charge of 
one of his staff officers to burn it, and he did his work nobly. 
Mrs. Thompson was in ill-health, with her children to look 
after. She begged them to spare her home. Before the 
torch was apj^lied, the Yankee soldiers rifled the house of 
every thing they wanted, and even a few relics which Mrs. 
Thompson carried out were taken from her. In the town, 
carpets were torn up, rugs, silver-ware, and every article of 
value were stolen. In the morning on which the Yankees 
entered Oxford, a number of our men loitered about the town. 
There was a party sitting upstairs over Avant's bank, discuss- 
ing things in general. Their horses were hitched around at 
different posts and rings. It was remarkable what chances 
men would take. They knew there were none of our troops 
between them and the enemy, and yet they loitered there in 
the shade, chatting away as cheerfully and as regardless of 
danger as field-larks. Captain A. D. Bright had his horse 
hitched to a ring on the sidewalk. His halter rein was a 
good long one, and the sidewalk was about a foot higher 
than the street. "Bud Dillard," McCulloch's bugler, a boy 
about fifteen, was standing on the corner and saw the Yankee 
cavalry coming down the street. He hardly had time to 
escape, but he thought of those upstairs. He ran up the 
steps, shouting: "The Yankees are in town." Down the 
boys tumbled. They rolled down and on to the sidewalk, 
and rushed for their horses. Bright forgot his halter rein 



IN THE COX FEDERATE ARMF. 175 

was fastened to the ring, and mounted his horse and plunged 
his spurs into him. He bounded off with all his might, and 
fell broadside on the ground. The halter was broken. Both 
Bright and the horse rose together, and struck the street fly- 
ing. The Yankees saw him, and rode for him, firing as they 
went, calling on him to halt; but Bright had business further 
south at that time, and having a better horse than his pursu- 
ers, made his escape. We never saw Bright until next day, 
and he told so many tales about where he went, we never 
knew positively what he did. It was remarkable how the 
crowd escaped. There were Captain F. Hargraves, Lieii- 
tenant Wm. Joyce, Lieutenant Chas. Martin, Colonel Casey 
Young, and Bright in the party. 



176 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 



CHAPTER XX. 

General Forrest makes a Dash into Memphis— The Ef- 
fort TO Capture Generals Washbur-n and Hurlbut 
— Men Ride Into the Gayoso Hotel on Their 
Horses — The Plight of Federal Prisoners — How 
General Forrest Fed Them and His Own Men — 
People Thought Judgment Day was Coming — The 
Negro Soldiers Idea of Forrest. 

The enemy under General Smith, ignorant of General 
Forrest's movement, advanced his entire force to Oxford, 
and after burning the town and resorting to the most cruel 
and inhuman acts toward the defenseless citizens, was pre- 
paring to move further south and destroy that section. About 
an hour before night, however, they hurriedly began a 
retreat toward Holly Springs, marching all night. General 
Chalmers was quickly advised of this, and knew Smith had 
received information of Forrest's movement, and, notwith- 
standing muddy roads, moved forward with great rapidity, 
sending Buford ahead with McCulloch's and the Kentucky 
brigade, while he in person led Mabry's brigade. Colonel 
Bill Wade was in command of McCulloch's brigade. He 
was an old infantry colonel, and had seen service in the 
Mexican War. Colonel Wade in advance struck the enemy's 
rear guard, just in the northern suburbs of Oxford. He rode 
at the head of the Fifth Mississippi, and when he reached the 
enemy, he formed the men in columns of eight, and with his 
saber cutting right and left, dashed through the Federal 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 177 

columns. His men used their guns as clubs, and rode over 
and trampled down a whole regiment. It was a desperate 
charge, but the men of the Fifth Mississippi were accustomed 
to desperate work. Wade afterward said: "D — n them. 
They have been running us for two or three days. I want 
them to know we are not afraid of them." The enemy halted 
after arriving at Hurricane creek, and formed his line, ex- 
pecting an attack. They were evidently getting nervous, and 
would have retreated in greater haste but for the delay in 
crossing the Tallahatchie river. We have said very little 
about the artillery, though much credit is due that branch of 
the service, for several of Forrest's successes. During the 
retreat of the enemy on the 23d, Captain Ed. S. Walton, with 
his battery, performed some wonderful feats. He kept his 
guns fully up to the front during the whole day, and poured 
grape and shell into their ranks, crushing and tearing them to 
pieces. The conduct of Walton and his men was grand. 
Whenever the enemy fell back, they took right hold of the 
guns and ran for better position. It was difficult for the cav- 
alry to keep up with them. The constant engagements for 
several days had exhausted our ammunition, and the horses 
were worn out, and they had very little feed for two 
days. Further, General Smith destroyed the bridge over the 
Tallahatchie, which made it impossible for General Chalmers 
to pursue the enemy beyond the river. 

We returned to Oxford, and found the people in a desperate 
condition. They had no food of any kind. General 
Chalmers sent word to hurry all the supplies to Oxford that 
could be found. Ladies and children were, in many cases, 
homeless and hungry. Those who were fortunate enough to 



178 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

have their houses left, had nothing to eat, and had to Uve on 
soldier's rough meat and bread for several 'days, and were 
glad to get that. When the enemy heard that Forrest was in 
Memphis, they feared he would get in their rear. Numbers 
of them knew what it was to have him on their trail, and, 
therefore, sought all the news obtainable. A Captain Cannon 
seemed very anxious to learn something about Forrest, and 
inquired of Mr. Cook, a citizen of Oxford, what kind of a man 
he was. Mr. Cook gave him a description of the general, and 
asked the Yankee captain if he would be willing to pick one 
hundred men and meet Forrest with the same number. 
" No," he replied, " I do not care to fight Forrest alone, with 
my whole company. I hope I may never see him." 

It is remembered that when General Forrest left Oxford, 
Memphis bound, it had been raining very hard, and continued 
two days afterward. The creeks were all greatly swollen, 
and the Tallahatchie river also. The roads were as muddy 
as rain could make them. It looked like an unwise and a 
forlorn effort, but with that indomitable and indefatigable 
man, in the lead of such soldiers as followed him on that ex- 
pedition, obstacles which other men could not have sur- 
mounted, gave way. It was necessary to go as far west as 
Panola, in order to cross the Tallahatchie. They rode all 
night in darkness and mud, swimming creeks, and often 
getting down in the mud and water to pull the artillery over, 
but they never complained. 

They reached Panola about sunrise the next morning, 
August 19th, where it was discovered that several of the ar- 
tillery horses were almost dead on their feet, but, after feed 
and a rest of three hours, they pushed on to Senatobia ; arriv- 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 179 

ing there, the men and horses were completely broken down. 
So Forrest remained all night, and moved early on the fol- 
lowing morning. He learned that Hickahala creek was full 
with the banks, and it was necessary to bridge it in order to 
cross. But Forrest and his band of superhuman men were 
equal to any emergency. The writer several times heard 
General Forrest tell how he overcame the difficulty, and will 
give it in his own words as near as can be remembered. 
Said he : "I had no idea of giving up my visit to Memphis, 
nor did I intend to lay around the creek waiting for it to fall. 
So I told Neely, Logwood, and McCulloch (Red Rob) to 
send their men to all the gin-houses for ten miles and bring 
in the flooring on their shoulders. There was a little narrow 
flat-boat not over twenty feet long on the north bank of the 
creek. Two of the men swam over and brought it to our 
side. I then set the men to work cutting grape-vines, which 
we twisted together, lapping them, until we had a long rope. 
I fastened one end to a tree, and sent some of the men over 
in the flat-boat to tie the other end. I used the flat-boat for 
my middle pontoon, and bundled together cedar telegraph 
poles I had cut down, which I used for the other pontoons. 
Before we got our pontoons in position, the boys began to 
arrive with the plank, which were put down as fast as could 
be, and by the time the last man was there with his plank, 
we were crossing the bridge. It did not require over three 
hours to build the bridge and cross, but I had to build a 
longer bridge over Coldwater river, where I again made use 
of the grape-vines for a cable. I found a lot of dry C3'press 
logs, which we used in the same way we did the telegraph 
poles at Hickahala, and with the ferry boat for the middle 



180 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

pontoon, we soon made a bridge over Coldwater river, which 
we crossed in safety, and reached Hernando before night. 
I had to continually caution the men to keep quiet. They 
were making a regular corn shucking out of it. Wet 
and muddy, but full of life and ready for any thing. I 
never had greater confidence in them. Those were great 
soldiers." 

When the command arrived at Hernando, General Forrest 
received information from his scouts, just returned from 
Memphis, that the city was quiet and without the slightest 
idea of the approach of a rebel force. He left Hernando, 
and rode all night (it was Saturday night), reaching near the 
vicinity of Memphis before daylight Sunday morning. The 
honest people and the thieves were all asleep, unmindful 
of the storm which hovered about them. The Federal sol- 
diers had retired to their bunks without the least solicitude. 
They knew that General Smith was after Forrest, and if he 
did not capture him, he would keep him on the move. What 
had they to fear ? They slept peacefully. No danger could 
possibly reach them. But how vain are all human ideas ! 
Before reaching the pickets, Forrest halted his command, 
and gave the officers instructions. He explained compre- 
hensively what each was expected to do. Captain W. H. 
Forrest, a younger brother of the general, was to take the 
advance and capture the pickets, after which he was to dash 
into the city and go directly to the Gayoso Hotel, where it 
was said General Hurlbut was quartered, as were also a num- 
ber of other Federal officers. Colonel Neely, with the Sec- 
ond Missouri, Fourteenth Tennessee, and Eighteenth Missis- 
sippi, was to charge the camp in the outskirts, while Colonel 



fN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 181 

Logwood was ordered to follow Captain Bill Forrest to the 
Gayoso with the Twelfth and Fifteenth Tennessee. Colonel 
Jesse Forrest, with the Sixteenth Tennessee, was instructed 
to dash through I)e Soto street to Union, and capture Gen- 
eral Washburn and his staff. Colonel Bell, with Newsum's 
regiment and the Second Tennessee under Colonel Morton, 
also two pieces of artillery, was to be left on the outskirts as 
a reserve. 

Captain William Forrest of all the men in our service was 
probably best fitted for the daring and desperate work as- 
signed to him. He was a powerful man, five feet eleven 
inches tall, broad shoulders, weighing about two hundred 
pounds, and, like the general, a physical giant. He was 
brave to recklessness. He did not fear one man, nor did he 
fear a hundred men, and yet he was as sympathetic as a 
woman. He never provoked a quarrel, but, when disturbed, 
would shoot a man on the slightest provocation, and he 
would give the last cent he had to a person in distress. The 
writer has known him to do hoth. It has been often said 
that General Forrest never feared but one man, and that man 
was his brother William. 

Every thing understood, Captain Forrest moved forward 
with ten picked men about fifty yards in advance of his com- 
pany. He reached the picket about two miles out from the 
city, on what was known as the Hernando road, near where 
Trigg avenue crosses Mississippi avenue. As Captain For- 
rest rode along, the Yankee vidette heard the tramp of his 
horses, and called out cjuickly : " Halt ! Who comes there ?" 
Captain Forrest answered : "A detachment with rebel prison- 
ers." The vidette replied : "Advance one." Captain Forrest 



182 PERSONAL RECOLLECriONS, ETC., 

whispered to his men to follow closely behind him. They 
rode quietly up, and found a guard sitting on his horse in the 
middle of the road. It was just before daylight. As soon 
as Captain Forrest got within reach he struck the picket a 
deadly blow over the forehead with his heavy six shooter, 
knocking him off his horse. One of the men dismounted 
quickly and disarmed him. The others rushed at the picket 
guards, and captured them without firing a gun. General 
Forrest had cautioned every one to keep perfectly quiet. 
There was no noise. General Forrest followed the advance 
closely, and about the time the pickets were made prisoners 
he rode up. Captain Forrest again moved forward and met 
the second guard, but unlike the vidette they fired at him, and 
ran for their lives. This circumstance excited our men, and 
simultaneously, though without orders, they dashed after the 
retreating Federals, and raised a yell. General Forrest, with 
his escort company, was close on their heels. He saw that 
the silence was broken, and that he could no longer conceal 
his presence. He told " Gaus" to blow the charge. At the 
first note of Gaus' bugle the regimental bugles responded 
with the charge, and before the first note ceased to re- 
verberate the whole command raised a yell and lifted their 
horses off the ground. 

No artist's brush will ever paint such a scene as that, and 
no pen will ever trace in words, language which can 
adequately describe it. Men who had been in the saddle for 
two days and nights wet and hungry, their horses worn out, 
now rushed over the enemy's camp yeUing and shouting like 
flying devils. The Federals had no intimation that Forrest 
was near. They could not realize the situation. They must 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMV. 188 

have thought the devils dropped out of the clouds. The 
wildest excitement spread in all directions. Captain Forrest 
with his gallant band of about forty men, depending entirely 
upon themselves, pressed forward, and ran into an artillery 
camp of six guns, caissons, horses, etc. They dashed on to 
the guns, killing or wounding nearly every man who exposed 
himself. This was near where the Kansas City, Memphis 
and Birmingham Railroad crosses Mississippi avenue. This 
little band pressed on to Beal street, crossed Main, and then 
to the Gayoso Hotel. Like avenging devils many of them 
rode their horses into the rotunda. The men rushed over 
the hotel, looking for General Hurlbut and other Federal 
officers. They created a panic equal to that at Pompeii 
when the city was destroyed by Vesuvius. Federal officers, 
suddenly aroused from sleep, ran from place to place en 
deshabille. Two of them, who did not realize the situation, 
began to curse the intruders, and made an effort to put them 
out. Those unfortunates were killed. Men and women 
screamed, the men were worse frightened than the women. 
The situation was inexplicable. It suggested the most awful 
and horrible thoughts that ever chased each other through 
the brain of man. People in the third and fourth story 
rooms heard the screams of those below, and the reports of two 
or three pistol shots. As they ran from place to place, they 
asked: "What is it?" Very soon Captain Forrest's men 
were breaking open the doors. Officers hid under their beds 
and in the closets, but were dragged out. They begged for 
their lives. Big rough-looking men, coarsely appareled and 
covered with mud, a ])istol in each hand, smashed in the 
doors, and were in full possession of the hotel. It was an 



184 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

awful situation to realize on getting out of bed. Those 
mud-covered men wanted General Hurlbut. He was not 
there, but he ought to have been there. 

Many of the men who rode with Forrest into Memphis that 
August morning are living, and are good and local citizens of 
the government of the United States. They are, in some in- 
stances, men of great prominence in affairs to-day. They 
are men of cultivation, refinement, influence, and wealth. 
They can be seen on the streets of Memphis any day, but a 
passerby would never suppose that those business-looking 
gentlemen, modest and unobtrusive, were the same dare- 
devils who rode their horses into the rotuda of the Gayoso, 
ready to kill any Federal soldier who offered resistance, and 
who surprised and captured pickets and charged batteries. 
But such is a fact. 

Captain Forrest, being in advance, aroused all the Federal 
forces. As soon as he passed and the officers caught their 
breath, they formed their men in line for defense. Colonel 
Logwood, who followed Captain Forrest, encountered a 
double line of infantry drawn up along the road not far from 
the artillery camp. Logwood was moving at a gallop. The 
first gray streaks of dawn were appearing, and the first inti- 
mation he had of their presence was a volley at the head of 
his column. Logwood was tempted to charge them, but he 
knew the importance of giving Captain Forrest support. 
Therefore he pushed on without halting. The enemy, greatly 
excited, shot over the heads of his men. As he reached 
Georgia street. Logwood found another line of infantry 
blocking his way. They opened fire, but at the head of the 
gallant Twelfth Tennessee, he led the charge against them. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 185 

The men raised a yell, and with guns in their right hands 
raised above their heads, rode pell-mell over and beyond the 
line, scattering those who opposed and creating a panic. 
The Yankees dodged like squirrels. As he reached the 
point where Wellington street runs into Mississippi avenue, 
he discovered a company of artillery, and the men were hur- 
riedly loading the pieces. There was not a moment to lose. 
His whole force would be shot to death in a minute more. 
But Logwood was the man for that occasion. With great 
presence of mind and courage, he dashed on the guns, and 
captured or killed the gunners before they could fire. He 
then rushed on to Hernando street, and by the old market- 
house; then out Beal to Main, and to the Gayoso. As the 
men went rushing and yelling through the streets, the enemy 
fired at them from behind fences, from windows, and from 
house corners. But our men were wild. They dashed on 
without the faintest idea of danger ; nothing but death could 
stop them. Numbers of our men had lived in Memphis, and 
were proud to see the city again. Women and men stuck 
their heads out of windows and doors, waiving sheets, 
dresses, and any thing they found handy. They recognized 
the muddy old Rebs, and welcomed them with all the enthu- 
siasm in their power. Numbers of females, overcome by ex- 
citement, rushed out into the streets in their night-robes, for- 
getful of every thing except the present moment. They had, 
figuratively, left the earth and walked in the air. Logwood 
and his gallant followers, after arriving at the Gayoso, re- 
newed the search for Federal officers. He, however, posted 
a squad of men in each direction, to give notice of any ad- 
vance of the enemy. After remaining in the vicinity until 



186 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

ten o'clock, he retired along Front street to Beal, and out to 
De Soto street. His scouts reported that the enemy was 
concentrating his forces, and would cut him off unless he 
moved quickly. Captain Forrest, with that recklessness and 
indifference to all opposition and danger which charaterized 
him at all times, decided to pay all his friends a visit. He 
was notified that the enemy on several streets was moving 
toward the Gayoso, but that made no difference to him. He 
had probably forty or fifty men. They mounted their horses 
in front of the hotel, formed company, and with Captain 
Forrest at the head, boldly rode through Gayoso street to 
Main, and up Main to Union, as leisurely as if they had been 
south of the Tallahatchie. They turned into Union going 
east, and when about the middle of the block a column of 
Federal infantry turned column left out of Second street into 
Union. The Federal soldiers carried their guns at a trail 
arms, and moved at double quick. The moment Forrest saw 
them, not over fifty yards away, he fired on them with his 
pistol, killing one of the men in the first set of fours. His 
men dashed on the column with such absolute recklessness 
they paralyzed them. As Captain Forrest rode toward them, 
he continued to shout: " Put down those guns!" The head 
of the Federal column wheeled to run without firing a gun, and 
coming in contact with those behind, caused great confusion. 
They knocked each other down. It might have been that 
those in the rear supposed that a large force of rebels was at 
hand. They ran with all their speed toward Gayoso street. 
Forrest's men continued to fire at them, killing and wounding 
several. Forrest did not follow them up, but continued his 
course out Union in a gallop, his men firing at every blue- 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM 2'. 187 

coat they saw. The men hooted and yelled like Comanches. 
They reached De Soto street, and saw Colonel Logwood's 
column going south, and joined them. 

Colonel Jesse Forrest, with his regiment, the Sixteenth 
Tennessee, had followed Colonel Logwood as far as Col- 
onel Robert Looney's place, on Mississippi avenue, then 
ran through Lauderdale to Union and to General Wash- 
burne's headquarters. Unlike the other column. Colonel 
Forrest met with little resistance, but found to his great re- 
gret that General Washburne had escaped. He heard the 
firing on Logwood, and left the house, though Colonel For- 
rest captured the members of the staff who waited to put on 
their clothes before following their general's example. 

General Forrest remained with the reserve under Colonel 
Bell. He knew an emergency might arise, in which case he 
wanted to be in a position to meet it. Colonel Neely, who 
had been ordered to attack the large infantry camp just 
south of Elmwood cemetery, was met by a terrific volley. 
The enemy heard firing and formed line before he reached 
them. This was unexpected, and checked Colonel Neely's 
gallant band. They, however, recovered, dismounted, and 
drove the enemy pell-mell. The enemy's force numbered 
over a thousand, while Colonel Neely mustered six hundred. 
General Forrest noticed the check Neely had received, and, 
quick as thought, called out: "Forward!" He dashed off 
to the east and right of the enemy, followed closely by his 
staff and escort, and Bell leading his command. It was 
General Forrest's intention to strike the enemy in the flank, 
but he passed near a cavalry camp, from which he was fired 
on. At no time or place during the war did General For- 



188 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

rest show to better advantage. There were several yard and 
garden fences intervening, over wnich he rode like a scythe 
over a wheat field. The cavalry, supposing the end of the 
world near at hand, fled in great confusion. He was riding 
old "King Philip," before which no fence would stand. 
General Forrest rode several paces ahead, as usual. He held 
a long cavalry saber raised in his right hand, and looked 
more like a devil incarnate than any thing those Yankees 
ever saw. He was physically a large man, but on that occa- 
sion must have looked forty feet high, as "King Philip" 
mounted the fences. He captured one hundred horses and 
about sixty men. Colonel Neely, as above stated, dispersed 
the infantry in his front, who were joined by the dismounted 
cavalry which General Forrest drove off, all of whom took 
refuge in the state female college buildings, in which there 
were numerous windows that were used as port holes. Gen- 
eral Forrest called on Lieutenant T. S. Sale, who commanded 
the section of artillery, to throw a few shells in the building, 
which he did with great celerity. The enemy, after reaching 
cover, opened a hot fire and defended the place with credit. 
General Forrest advanced a skirmish line, but concluded it 
would be too great a sacrifice to send his men against them ; 
therefore, contented himself with watching Sale make holes 
in the wall and roof. It was the first chance Sale had on the 
trip, and he was anxious to batter the buildings, but General 
Forrest needed him for other work, and withdrew. Forrest, 
ascertaining that the enemy was massing his forces, having 
recovered from the shock, sent men into the city to collect 
stragglers and hurry them out to rejoin their commands. The 
commands under Colonels Logwood and Jesse Forrest, re- 



TN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 189 

turning through De Soto street, to what is now Mississippi 
avenue, found a strong line of infantry, supporting a six-gun 
battery, just to the south of the Kansas City, Memphis and 
Birmingham Railroad, and extending across the Provine 
place. The force, as well as the guns, had full possession of 
fhe road, and commanded the approach from the city. That 
was a serious situation. Colonel Logwood sent Company 
"I," of the Fifteenth Tennessee, commanded by Captain 
Peter Williams, to take the battery. He charged at once, 
but was driven back. He recharged, however, reinforced 
by Company " H," also of the Fifteenth, commanded by 
Lieutenant J. M. Witherspoon, and captured the battery. 

In the meantime Colonel Jesse Forrest had moved to the 
flank of the infantry, which frightened them off, leaving no 
enemy in front. The column quickly joined General For- 
rest, who, with Bell's and Neely's commands, was near the 
buildings where the enemy had sought shelter. It was now 
about noon, and General Forrest desired to retire, and let the 
pot stop boiling long enough to allow General Washburne to 
telegraph the situation at Memphis to Smith. Many of the 
men were dismounted, arranging such articles as they had 
captured on their saddles, when suddenly a long column of 
Federal cavalry was seen riding at a rapid gait in pursuit of 
a lot of twenty or thirty men, who had lingered in the city. 
General Forrest, ever ([uick as powder, knew what to do. It 
made him furious to see his men chased by such a large 
body. He wheeled " King Philip " in the road, and called 
on Colonel Chalmers with the Eighteenth Mississippi and 
Colonel McCulloch (Red Bob) with his Second Missouri to 
follow. He rode at the head of the great Second Missouri, 



190 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

with Colonel "Red Bob" by his side, to the right of the 
road, and sent Colonel Chalmers with his regiment to the 
left. They charged down on either side of the enemy's col- 
umn, striking him right and left. It was a curious move- 
ment the enemy did not understand. It looked like spread- 
ing the wings of a partridge net to drive the birds through. 
They halted, and our stragglers galloped to their commands. 
The Federal officers acted with great courage, and tried to 
lead their men on, but could not do it. A Federal, Colonel 
Starr, seeing General Forrest, no doubt recognized him, and 
thinking to distinguish himself in a hand to hand fight, made 
a dash at the general. Colonel Starr did not live over ten 
minutes. He was no more in the hands of General Forrest 
than a butterfly would be in the claws of an eagle. 

General Forrest, with some six hundred prisoners, and a 
large number of horses, then fell back, going in the direction 
whence he came. After going a short distance he had an 
opportunity to discover the character of his captives, and 
found that quite a number were unable to march, on account 
of having no shoes, while others were sick. He therefore 
sent a member of his staff. Lieutenant C. W. Anderson, back 
to the city with a flag of truce. He sent with him an officer, 
who was a member of General Washburne's staff, a prisoner. 
His instructions were to say to General Washburne that the 
prisoners in his possession were in a wretched condition, many 
of them without shoes or clothing, that he did not desire to 
see them suffer, and as an act of humanity he would pro- 
pose to exchange them for such of his men as might be 
held as prisoners. Should General Washburne not have 
an equal number to exchange, he would parol the re- 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 191 

mainder. Should General Washburne reject the proposal, 
he would suggest then that he send clothing for his men. 
He would await General Washburne's pleasure at Nonconnah 
creek, about six miles from the city. Lieutenant Anderson 
saw General Washburne, who said he had no authority to 
recognize the parol of the prisoners held by General Forrest, 
but would accept the proffered privilege of sending a supply 
of clothing. In a short time two Federal officers. Colonel 
W. P. Hepburne and Captain H. S. Lee, with a wagon-load 
of clothing, were sent out. They reached General Forrest 
about three p. m., and the clothing was immediately dis- 
tributed under direction of Colonel Hepburne. General 
Forrest then directed his surgeons to examine the prisoners, 
and such as were found to be sick and unfit to undergo the 
hardships of the march might be sent back with the wagon, 
but with the promise they would not bear arms against the 
Confederate cause, or in any way injure the cause, unless 
properly exchanged. About two hundred were turned loose 
on those conditions. The remainder, about four hundred, 
were mounted on the extra horses, and the march taken up 
to Hernando. Including the prisoners, General Forrest had 
about two thousand men without rations. He knew it 
would be impossible to obtain any thing before reaching 
Panola, therefore, with that promptness which always stood 
him in hand, he decided to make requisition on General 
Washburne. He wrote General Washburne, stating his in- 
ability to feed his prisoners, and suggested that inasmuch as 
he would not receive them on parol, that the least he could 
do would be to send them something that night. He stated 
he would encamp at Hernando. This communication was 



192 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

sent by Colonel Hepburne. About daylight the following 
morning, the same two officers reached the camp with two 
wagons well loaded with provisions. Rations were issued 
to the prisoners for two days, and there was ample left to 
feed our men also. General Forrest, desiring to impress 
General Washburne with the idea that he might renew his 
atttack on Mem[)his, gave instructions to make the men as 
comfortable as possible for a few days. The Federal officers 
returned to Memphis, and as soon as they were out of sight. 
General Forrest moved rapidly to Panola. 

Persons who heard the sharp call of the buglers on the 
morning just before daylight say it was the most awful and 
ringing sound they ever heard. No one except the men 
themselves knew what the situation was. People were left to 
depend entirely on imagination. Could it be that Gabriel 
was sounding the last call ? The thunderous yells, the rush 
of the horses in the mud, the clanking of sabers and the rat- 
tle of spurs added to the awful situation. It was dark. 
Nothing could be seen. It had been said that the end of the 
world would come when no man expected it, and in the 
darkness of the night. Men and women asked themselves 
and each other if that was judgment day. They knew that 
war was cruel and spread desolation, but something worse than 
war was upon them. It was late for some of them to do so, 
but they prayed for their souls. They wondered if they 
would ever see the sunshine and the shadows again. Their 
brains were sizzing. 

The caravan which Forrest escorted out of Memphis, Sun- 
day afternoon, August 21, 1864, was in deep distress. The 
children of Israel, whom Moses led across the Red Sea, 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 193 

dry shod, were no more downcast and discouraged before 
the passage than was that lot of Federal prisoners. Moses' 
crowd had probably sufficient clothing, but those poor fellows 
were in an exceedingly bad condition. Some of them had 
on nothing but their underclothes, while others had nothing 
but night-shirts. Great numbers of them had no hats, and very 
few of them had shoes. Officers who had pranced about the 
streets of Memphis in their gay uniforms, in some instances do- 
ing duty as staff officers, mounted on good horses with ele- 
gant saddles, were now in a sad and pitiable plight, as they 
trudged along in the mud, their gowns wet and draggling. 
There was no merriment or humor in that party, and the old 
"Johnnies" felt too much sympathy for them to indulge in 
any levity. Terrible stories were told after the raid into 
Memphis of how Forrest and his men acted. A number of 
people anxious to appear as heroes told ridiculous tales of 
what they passed through. One of the best stories told was 
by a negro soldier, who claimed to have seen General For- 
rest as he rode up to the front of the Gayoso Hotel. He de- 
scribed to his companions how Forrest looked and the size 
of his horse. Said he: "I was erstanning right in dis alley 
when I seed him came up. He rid his boss right up to de 
hotel, and I 'm telling you the Gord's truf, he hitched his 
hoss right to the second story bannisters. I seed him. I 
seed him." 

And there are to-day old negroes in Memphis who can 
show you where he hitched his horse. The negro's idea was 
that he was as big as " Colossus of Rhodes." 



194 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 



CHAPTER XXI. 

General Chalmers' Movement against Memphis — The 
Regiment of State Troops — Pleasant Stay at 
Bolivar, Tennessee — Arrival at Paris Landing — 
The Undine and Cheeseman Captured — First Con- 
federate Flag Seen Afloat — Ten Million Dollars 
WORTH OF Property Destroyed in one Engagement 
on the Tennessee River — Official Confirmation — 
Brilliant Work of the Artillery. 

General Forrest arrived at Grenada, August 24, 1864, and 
in a few days set about to reorganize his forces. In the 
meantime, General Chalmers with that Spartan band, which 
so successfully resisted the advance of General Smith and 
completely concealed the absence of General Forrest, fell 
back to the south bank of the Yocona river, and went into 
camp at Springdale. Too much praise can not be given to 
General Chalmers for his brave, bold, wise and persistent 
generalship on that campaign. Confronted by a finely 
equipped army of twenty-two thousand men, he disposed his 
forces in the most advantageous manner. It was important 
that he should not be drawn into an engagement, and yet it 
was necessary to keep constantly in front of the enemy, har- 
rassing them in every way, engaging Smith's attention, and 
keeping from him the information that General Forrest had 
gone in the direction of Memphis. General Chalmers' force 
numbered about thirty-three hundred men, but he deployed 
them so skillfully General Smith believed ten thousand men 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 195 

were in his front. The attack he made on the Federal lines 
on August the 19th, at Hurricane Creek, was sharp and bril- 
liant, and it established forever the characters of his men. 
Wet and hungry, knowing the great disparity in numbers and 
equipment, they did not hesitate. The attack startled Gen- 
eral Smith. He felt sure fresh troops were at hand, which 
made him exceedingly cautious. General Forrest in the 
reorganization placed the troops of each state together. 
Chalmers' division was composed of two brigades, the first, 
commanded by McCulloch (who had recovered from his 
wounds) composed of the Second Missouri, Lieutenant- 
Colonel R. A. McCulloch ; Willis' Texas Battalion, Lieu 
tenant-Colonel Theo Willis ; Seventh Mississippi, Lieutenant- 
Colonel S. M. Haynes ; Fifth Mississippi, Colonel W. G. 
Henderson; Eighth Mississippi, Colonel W. L. Duff; 
Eighteenth Mississippi, Colonel A. H. Chalmers. 

The second, commanded by Colonel E. W. Rucker, con- 
sisted of Forrest's old regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel D. C. 
Kelly; Seventh Tennessee, Colonel W. L. Duckworth; 
Fourteenth Tennessee, Colonel J. J. Neely ; Fifteenth Ten- 
nessee. Colonel F. M. Stewart; Twelfth Tennessee, Lieu- 
tenant Colonel J. .\L Green. 

Buford's division was also composed of two brigades, one 
commanded by Colonel E. T. Bell, the other by Brigadier- 
General H. B. Lyon, the former being Tennessee, and the 
latter Kentucky troops. 

On the 29th of August, General Chalmers was ordered to 
West Point, Miss., General Maury having called for assist- 
ance. McCuUoch's brigade reached West Point, September 
3d, and went at once by rail to Mobile, and we were de- 



196 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC. 

prived of the services of that splendid command until after 
the Nashville campaign. Before any other troops got away 
General Maury telegraphed that the necessity for help had 
passed, and General Forrest at once began preparations 
for a raid in the rear of Sherman's army. He left Verona 
with all the best troops in the command on September i6th, 
and moved in the direction of Florence, Ala. He attacked 
and captured a number of block houses, and destroyed large 
quantities of stores. General Chalmers was ordered to 
Grenada to take command of all dismounted troops, and 
such cavalry as could be gotten together in the state, and was 
expected to defend the country against any movement from 
Memphis. He was advised by Henderson's scouts that the 
enemy was making extensive preparations to leave Memphis. 
He was well aware that he could not check a movement of 
that kind, and on October 5th moved north with about one 
thousand five hundred men, poorly equipped, to prevent the 
raid if possible. We marched rapidly toward Memphis. 
The enemy had every thing in readiness to begin the move- 
ment south, but advised of Chalmers' aggressiveness deemed 
it safer to remain at Memphis and defend it. General For- 
rest was being pressed in West Tennessee, and this demon- 
stration prevented troops going against him, which were now 
held awaiting the outcome of Chalmers' movement. The 
army at Memphis destroyed the bridges on all the ap- 
proaches from the south and east, and dug deep ditches 
across the roads and streets. Breast-works were hurriedly 
thrown up, and the greatest alarm took possession of the 
garrison. They believed that Chalmers had a large force 
and intended to attack the city. Skirmishers were sent out 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMV. 197 

to drive the enemy's pickets in. We remained in the neigh- 
borhood of Nonconnah all day, then moved to the east of 
the city, as if seeking an easier or better point of attack. In 
this way the enemy was at a loss to understand the objects 
of the expedition, and while they were thus deceived Gen- 
eral Forrest made his return to Jackson safely. Arriving at 
the latter place he telegraphed General Chalmers to join him. 
This order was received at Como, and the march was begun 
at once toward Jackson. Among the troops General Chal- 
mers had gotten together, on his bold and highly successful 
demonstration against Memphis, was a regiment of Missis- 
sippi state troops, composed of boys twelve to fourteen and 
old men sixty to seventy five years of age. They volunteered 
in answer to a call made by Governor Pettus. It will be 
remembered that each farmer in the Confederacy gave the 
government ten per cent of his crops, which was designated 
"Tax in Kind." A mischievous rascal of Chalmers' reg- 
ular troops seeing a little boy with an old squirrel rifle 
nearly twice as long as its owner was tall, asked him if he 
was Tax in Kind. The idea was taken up at once, and the 
state troops were called ever afterward "Tax in Kind" by 
the regular troops. 

Just after going into camp the first night near Memphis, the 
colonel of the "Tax in Kind" regiment approached General 
Chalmers, and asked: "Are we not in the State of Tennes- 
see?" " Yes," replied the general, "this is Shelby county, 
Tennessee." "Well, sir," said the colonel, "my men vol- 
unteered to defend Mississippi. You would not allow us to 
bring any cooking utensils, and we have no bread ; therefore, 
I shall return to Mississippi." The general knew his point 



198 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

was well taken, but it was necessary to retain the regiment 
for a few days. He said: "Colonel, let us talk about it;" 
and they walked to the general's catnp-fire. The general's 
purpose was to treat the colonel so hospitably he could not 
well afford to withdraw his regiment. Arriving at the fire, he 

said: "Jim, get to work. I have invited Colonel to 

take supper with me. Give us the best you have." 

Jim punched up the fire and made his preparations. He 
stirred up his dough in a bucket, got a few corn shucks, 
which, after saturating, he filled with the dough, then covered 
them in hot ashes. He then sliced some fat bacon, which he 
broiled over the coals on the end of a stick. The colonel 
observed the utensils used, and while Jim was preparing sup- 
per, the general recited the story of the "Alamo." He told 
of the one hundred and seventy-two patriots under Colonel 
Travis ; how they resisted the attack of Santa Anna with his 
three thousand Mexicans, and when it became apparent to 
Colonel Travis that all hope had departed, he announced the 
fact, saying: "I will die like a man for my country;" and 
with his sword he made a line on the floor, and called on 
those who were willing to make the sacrifice for freedom to 
cross it. "And do you know," continued General Chalmers, 
" they all crossed to Travis but one. His name was Rose." 
The general was eloquent. About one hundred boys who 
had listened to the story clapped their hands. Just at 
this time Jim announced that supper was ready, and he 
handed to each of us an ash-cake the shape of an ear of corn 
and a slice of bacon. The colonel ate a bite or two, then 
said: "General, I see the point. I can stand it if you can, 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. I99 

and if my boys are willing, we will stay." The boys, with 
one accord, said: "Stay, colonel, stay." And they did stay. 
We arrived at Bolivar, October 16, 1864. General Chal- 
mers was invited to make his headquarters at the home of 
Mrs. Thomas McNeal. His family and the McNeal family 
had been friends for many years. It was an elegant home, 
surrounded by beautiful shrubbery and flowers. The house 
was large and well ordered, and Mrs. McNeal presided with 
an ease and grace which is unusual in this day. Before the 
war she entertained distinguished people. Mr. McNeal was 
a nephew of President Polk, and the latter was often a guest 
at this charming Southern place during his life. Mrs. 
McNeal was well qualified for the duty of hostess, having 
had the advantage of a thorough education and extensive 
travel. She was descended from a long line of ancestors 
whose homes had been noted for open and unstinted hos- 
pitality, where the most cultivated people gathered to enjoy 
music and bright conversation and all the pleasures of re- 
fined society. But there was another feature about that 
household which attracted the attention of the staff, particu- 
larly the young members. Miss Irene McNeal, though not 
yet grown, was the embodiment of the highest promises of 
girlhood. She was at that age when the world smiled on 
her, and she returned smile for smile in the most gentle, 
graceful, and happy manner. She was bright and witty, and 
as beautiful as a bird of Paradise. Of the staff. Crump, 
Lindsay, Mills, Taylor, and Bleecker were unmarried, and 
if the Federals could have captured our forces as readily as 
those gentlemen capitulated to the charms of this young lady, 
the war would have ended in a short time. 



200 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

We smile as we look back on those scenes. Neither of 
the boys had encouragement to suppose that the little queen 
was partial to him, or to either of them, but that greatest of 
all blessings, " hope," conquered reason and they lived in 
the future. 

We spent a week most delightfully, and all regretted when 
the time came to leave. Before bidding good-bye to that 
beautiful home, it may not be inappropriate to say that Miss 
McNeal was not captured on that occasion. She is now Mrs. 
Jerome Hill, of St. Louis, and retains her charms to a re- 
markable degree. 

The entire command by this time had reached the vicinity 
of Jackson, where it remained a week, resting the horses. 
On October 24, 1864, General Buford was ordered to Hunt- 
ingdon, and General Chalmers to McLemoresville. Colonel 
Rucker resumed command of his brigade, having recovered 
from the wounds received at Harrisburg, while General 
Mabry commanded the Second Brigade of Chalmers' divi- 
sion. When General Buford reached Huntingdon, orders 
awaited him to proceed at once to the mouth of the Big 
Sandy and blockade the Tennessee river; and with Lyon's 
brigade he went direct to Fort Heiman, leaving Bell's brigade 
at Paris Landing. There is a long straight stretch of river 
in each direction at both places, which enabled General 
Buford to observe any movement of the boats. He had 
Walton's two twenty-pound Parrott guns commanded by 
Lieutenant Willis O. Hunter, at Fort Heiman, and a section 
of Morton's battery at Paris Landing. General Chalmers, 
having arrived at Paris, was ordered to move at once to 
Paris Landing with Rucker's brigade and a section each of 



/iV THE CONFEDERATE ARM)'. 201 

Walton's and Rice's batteries. We left Paris just before the 
dawn of day, and arrived at Paris Landing, a distance of 
twenty-two miles, about eleven o'clock a. m., October 30th. 
Here we learned that General Buford had captured a steam- 
boat, the Mazeppa, loaded with army supplies of all kinds. 
Also, that a gun-boat and steamboat had attempted to pass 
Fort Heiman, that General Buford had fired on them, and 
at that time both were anchored at the bend of the river be- 
tween the fort and Paris Landing. When the Mazeppa was 
deserted by her crew, she rested against the opposite shore ; 
we had no means of crossing the river, but a gallant fellow 
of Walton's battery, Dick Clinton, plunged into the river 
and soon stood on deck. He tumbled a skiff overboard and 
went back for General Buford, and when the prize was 
brought to our bank, the general was standing on deck with 
a demijohn in his hands. Saluting the crowd on shore, he 
said : " Rations and clothes for the boys and whiskey for the 
general." 

The gun-boat, which was the Undine, began shelling Bell's 
position, and this was the situation when General Chalmers 
reached Paris Landing. There was a long open shed at the 
landing, behind which Bell's brigade had fallen back from 
the river into the woods to get out of reach of the Undine's 
shells. General Mabry's brigade and Thrall's battery were 
left at Paris. General Chalmers and Colonel Rucker, with 
their respective staffs and escorts, reached Paris Landing 
some twenty minutes ahead of the brigade, where they found 
shells bursting and making a terrific noise, and topping the 
trees. They were joined by Colonel Bell, who explained the 
situation. 



202 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

General Chalmers said: "Gentlemen, I think we can 
silence that machine, provided we can get our guns in proper 
position," and turning said to Colonel Rucker, " Ride down 
the river and see what you think about it, I will be governed 
by your judgment." Colonel Rucker returned in a short 
time, and said: "General, I can take Walton's two ten 
pound Parrots and a regiment and capture or destroy both 
boats." He was then ordered to do so, and with the two 
guns mentioned, which were under the immediate command 
of Sergeant Crozier, and Logwood's and Kelly's regiments, 
moved quickly to position. He planted the Parrotts just 
above the boats, and dismounting the men sent them under 
the command of Colonel Kelly to a point just below the 
boats, with instructions to fire into the port holes and at the 
pilot house. The first shot from the Parrotts was a signal. 
As soon as Rucker opened, the Undine moved to the other 
shore, for the purpose of getting into better position. She 
could not elevate her guns sufficiently to do him any harm 
from the position he found her in. The armament of the 
Undine consisted of eight beautiful brass pieces. She fired 
broadside after broadside, but Rucker filled her so full of 
shot and shell that the crew, who were not disabled, took to 
the woods. Colonel Rucker ordered Colonel Kelly to take 
possession of both the Venus and the Undine, and proceed 
with them to Paris Landing. In the meantime. General 
Chalmers dismounted the balance of Rucker's brigade, and 
moved them under the bluff to the water's edge. He posted 
a section of Rice's battery under Lieutenant Briggs just 
above the landing, some three h\mdred yards off. Very soon 
a steamboat hove in sight coming down the river. She 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 203 

proved to be the J. W. Cheeseman, and was loaded with a 
lot of sutler's stores, pickles, coffee, canned goods, etc. 
The men were ordered to keep quiet. She rode the river as 
gracefully as a swan. The men were resdess and hard to 
restrain. They had no idea of allowing her to escape. On 
she came, and just after passing Briggs' position he opened 
fire on her. The first shot fired passed entirely through the 
cabin. The crew made for the hull. The engineer shut off 
the steam, and the boat turned crosswise the river. As she 
approached the landing a yellow negro boy wearing a white 
cap stood leaning over the guard. He was enjoying the 
fresh air, and dreaming of the future, wholly unmindful 
of any danger. But when the first shell from Briggs' guns 
struck the boat he disappeared. After the smoke and 
sphnters had cleared away he was gone. That is all we ever 
knew of him. In a few minutes a whhe flag was sent up 
from the hatchway, and a moment later the firing had ceased. 
General Chalmers called out: " Come to the landing." The 
answer was shouted back: "The wheel is broken, we can 
not manage her." He then said : " Send a boat and a rope." 
Soon a yawl was lowered, and two men with one end of a 
rope in it pulled for our shore. The other end was fastened 
to the boat. Our men were in a hilarious mood, and crowded 
down near the edge of the water. No child ever anticipated 
more happiness, nor expected so many beautiful things would 
come to him on Christmas, than did the men of Rucker's 
brigade expect to gather when the Cheeseman should land. 
General Chalmers decided to protect the office and cabin 
from a general spoliation, therefore, ordered a detail from his 
escort company to report to Lieutenant Bleecker, who would 



204 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

board the steamer as soon as she touched the shore, and 
guard the passage at the head of the stairway. Frank M. 
Norfleet and Oliver D. Sledge reported for service. When 
the yawl reached the shore a hundred or more men soon 
took the rope and began to pull. The gang plank was 
projecting over the bow of the steamer as she neared shore. 
Frank Norfleet was the first man aboard, closely followed by 
Lieutenant Bleecker and Oliver Sledge. Before the plank 
reached the shore Captain Wm. Tucker, who was anxious to 
be first on board, made a jump, but slipped and fell into the 
river. He swam ashore, wet, but wiser. The boys were 
soon at the head of the steps, while the men began to crowd 
on the boat. It was remarkable how quickly the boat was 
stripped of every thing worth moving. Barrels of pickles, 
hams, coffee, etc., lined the bank. Neither Delmonico nor 
Mme. Begue ever prepared a spread that gave as much 
pleasure as the men had that night. Bleecker and his two 
companions found nothing in the office or the cabin worth 
mentioning, and so advised General Chalmers. Then they 
began the hunt for happiness. ' T is said that " music hath 
charms to sooth the savage breast," that art and poelry 
inspire the mind of man, but for a rebel soldier a lot of 
"grub " was superior to every thing else. 

Soon after the Cheeseman had been captured, another 
gun-boat was seen coming down the river with a chip on her 
shoulder. The officers evidently believed they would soon 
drive us away. She came to anchor about a mile off, and 
began to throw her shells. The distance was too great for 
Briggs' gun to be effective against her; therefore General 
Chalmers directed him to move nearer, which he did, and 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 205 

drove the gun-boat away. At this stage of the game it 
looked very much as if we owned the Tennessee river. 

General Forrest reached us on the morning of October 
31st. He was greatly pleased with the success of the expe- 
dition, and decided at once to have the damage to the boats 
repaired, and go into the fleet business himself. It was as- 
certained that Briggs had irreparably ruined the Cheeseman, 
so she was burned. But the Venus and the Undine were 
placed in order. Walton's two twenty-pound Parrotts were 
put on the Venus, under command of Lieutenant W. O. 
Hunter, and she was made the flag-ship, with Lieutenant- 
Colonel W. A. Dawson in command. Captain Gracy was 
given command of the Undine. The Fourteenth Tennessee 
was detailed as a crew, and with Confederate flags flying 
from both vessels, they started on a trial trip to Fort Heiman. 
It was the first time in our lives we had ever seen a Confed- 
erate flag on a boat. The men ran along the bank for a 
mile, weaving their hats and cheering. The boats returned to 
Paris Landing without accident, and on the morning of No- 
vember ist we started up the river to Johnsonville. General 
Chalmers was ordered to keep near and support the fleet. 
We camped that night on the bank of the river. It soon be- 
gan to rain, and poured all night. Next morning, bright and 
early, we set out again. We reached a bend of the river, 
where our boats got ahead of us. No sooner done than 
three gun-boats began firing on them. A shot struck the 
Venus, disabling her. Captain Dawson then ran ashore and 
abandoned her. Walton, Moulton, and Rice ran their guns 
in position and forced the gunboats to retire. We soon 
came in sight of Johnsonville, where our gun-boat was at- 



206 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

tacked both from above and below. Several gun-boats fol- 
lowed us from the south, and, in conjunction with the three 
at Johnsonville, made it so hot for the Undine that Captain 
Gracy and his men ran her ashore and set fire to her. We 
lost our big twenty-pound Parrotts when the Venus was cap- 
tured. We moved forward, and found General Mabry, with 
Thrall's battery, in position about two miles below Johnson- 
ville. He had been sent there direct from Paris by General 
Forrest. The following morning, Mabry took position oppo- 
site Johnsonville, supporting Thrall's battery. Excavations 
were made in the ground, and Thrall's guns placed in them. 
General Lyon, with about four or five hundred men, joined 
us, and he, with a section of Walton's battery, was stationed 
above Mabry. Rucker was opposite Johnsonville, just below 
Mabry. He had Morton's battery, sunk also in the same 
way. Rice's battery and the other section of Walton's were 
below. The horses were all moved back into the woods, and 
the men found protection behind logs and trees. General 
Forrest directed that the attack should begin at two p. m., 
November 4th. General Chalmers was to give the signal by 
a rifle-shot. He sat near the water's edge with a Springfield 
rifle, and at the appointed time took aim at the pilot on a 
steamer. Lieutenant Bleecker sat beside him, and saw the 
glass break just to the right of the pilot's head. He was a 
good marksman. Immediately all our guns opened. Thrall's 
first. General Chalmers and Bleecker retained their posi- 
tions and watched the effect of the shells. It was a great 
surprise to the enemy, who thought our forces had left the 
neighborhood. The batteries from the land opened a terrific 
fire on our position, as did also one of the gun boats. The big 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 207 

shells crashed and tore through the woods, limbing and 
smashing the trees. The enemy had a large quantity of 
supplies piled up, covering about two acres of ground. Men 
were seen walking about, some loading the steamboats, others 
merely looking on. The second shot from Thrall's battery 
exploded the boiler of one of the gun-boats. We could hear 
the people scream as the steam enveloped them. Gunners 
jumped through the port-holes into the river to escape the 
burning steam, and were drowned.' A moment later, a shot 
from the same battery exploded a magazine, setting the gun- 
boat on fire, and the flames were swept down against the 
others, and these too were soon enveloped in a fiery sheet. 
This circumstance excited our gunners, who began to land 
the shells in the boats rapidly. Very soon every vessel was 
burning. Men jumped in the river. The panic was fright- 
ful. Those on the boats would run from one end to the 
other, then despair and jump in the river, to drown. Within 
two hours, we had burned four gun-boats, eleven steam- 
boats, and twenty barges, besides all the stores on shore. 
The Federal accounts afterward stated the loss at ten million 
dollars. By night, every thing on the Johnsonville side was 
a mass of ashes. 

The following morning we took up the march ; Rucker, 
with his brigade and Morton's battery, were the last to leave. 
Just as he was leaving, a regiment of negro troops, supposing 
our command all gone, came out from cover, rushed to the 
bluff, and began cursing the rebels, daring them to come 
back and give them a chance. Nothing on earth could have 
suited Colonel Rucker and Captain Morton better than to 
accommodate the blood-thirsty negroes. He ordered the 



208 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

guns in position and moved his brigade to the bluff. The 
fire from the battery was followed by the deadly rifles of the 
cavalry. The negroes ran in the wildest confusion without 
firing a gun. Numbers of them were killed and wounded. 
After that brief interruption, Rucker followed Chalmers 
with his command. The affair at Johnsonville was a remark- 
able success. We destroyed about ten million dollars worth 
of property, and killed and wounded a large number of the 
enemy, while our loss was the two twenty-pound Parrotts, two 
men killed, and four wounded, the Parrott guns being lost on 
board the Venus, when she was sunk by Colonel Dawson to 
avoid capture. 

The following report, made by General Chalmers four 
days subsequent to the engagement, was found in the War 
Department Records by a friend, and handed me after the 
above was written. It is a paper of great value, and con- 
firms the recollections of the writer almost entirely. Of 
course, no one could give so complete a report to day as one 
written at the time, and which was official, and, too, by so 
able and intelligent an officer as General Chalmers. It will 
be noticed that General Chalmers speaks several times of 
Hudson's battery in his report. When the company was 
formed it was called "The Pettus Flying Artillery." The 
captain, "Alfred Hudson," was killed at Shiloh. Soon after 
the battery had been given to General Forrest, Lieutenant 
E. S. Walton was made captain, and commanded the com- 
pany until the war closed. The battery was always called 
Walton's Battery by the command : 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM 2'. 209 

Report of Brigadier-General James R. Chalmers, C. S. 
Army, Commanding Cavalry Division. 

Headquarters Chalmers' Division, Forrest's Cavalry, 
Perryville, Tenn., November 2), 1864. 
Major— lx\ obedience to orders from Major-General For- 
rest, commanding, etc., I moved, on the morning of the 30th 
of October, from Paris, Tenn., with Rucker's brigade, my 
escort battaUon, and four pieces of rifled artillery (one sec- 
tion of Rice's and one of Hudson's battery), to Paris Land- 
ing, on the Tennessee river, where I arrived about 1 1 a. m. 
on the same day. I found Colonel Bell at the landing, with 
his brigade, of Buford's division, and a section of Morton's 
battery. He reported to me that a short time before my ar- 
rival a gun-boat and two transports had passed his position, 
going down the river, and that, in obedience to orders from 
General Buford, he had reserved his fire until they had 
passed, and had then opened upon them, and he thought had 
done them some damage. One of the transports succeeded, 
as I was afterward informed in passing Fort Heiman, where 
General Buford was stationed with the Kentucky brigade of 
his division, a section of Morton's battery, and the two 
twenty-pound Parrott guns of Hudson's battery, but was badly 
crippled in the attempt. The other transport (the Venus) 
and the gun-boat (the U. S. Steamer Undine, No. 55) were 
at the bend of the river about midway between the positions 
of Colonel Bell and General Buford, and out of range of the 
guns of either. After a consultation with Colonel Bell, I 
directed him to move his artillery down the river to a point 
as nearly as possible opposite to the boats, and to drive them 
from their position. He rode off to reconnoiter, and, on re- 
turning, reported that the order could not be executed on 
account of the ground to be passed over. My artillery having 
arrived, was placed in- position on the bank of the river, 



210 PERSOiXAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

above that held by Colonel Bell, with an interval of several 
yards between the sections. 

Colonel Rucker, coming upon the field, suggested that the 
guns should be moved down the river to attack the boats, 
and on being told that Colonel Bell had reported the ground 
impracticable for artillery, he proposed that he and I should 
re-examine it. We accordingly rode down the river, Colonel 
Bell accompanying us, but before we had found a suitable 
position, a courier reported another transport coming down, 
and Colonel Bell and I returned to the batteries, leaving 
Colonel Rucker with orders to continue his reconnaissance. 
The transport proved to be the J. W. Cheeseman, a stern- 
wheel steamer. She was allowed to pass the upper battery 
(Rice's) unmolested, but as soon as she came opposite to 
the middle battery (Hudson's), the guns of both opened upon 
her, and her steam-pipe was cut and other parts of her ma- 
chinery disabled. As she was passing Hudson's battery. 
Colonel Bell's battery also opened upon her, and a heavy fire 
of small arms being poured into her by troops stationed 
along the bank of the river, she was soon compelled to sur- 
render. Soon after this, Colonel Bell moved his brigade 
to Fort Pleiman in obedience to orders from General Bu- 
ford, whom I had directed to consolidate his division at that 
point. 

Colonel Rucker having reported that he had found a 
practicable route and a good position for attat king the boats 
below the landing, I directed him to move down to it with 
the section of Hudson's battery (two ten-pounder Parrott 
guns), the Fifteenth Regiment and Twenty-sixth Battalion 
Tennessee Cavalry of his brigade, and attack them, which he 
did with such vigor and success that after a severe artillery 
duel between his battery and the gun-boat, the latter was 
disabled and driven to the opposite bank, where all of her 
officers and crew, who were able to do so, abandoned her 
and escaped, leaving only the dead and wounded behind. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMF. 211 

At the same liiiie, Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly, commanding 
the Twenty-sixth Battalion Tennessee Cavalry, attacked the 
transport Venus, which was defended by a small detachment 
of United States Infantry, so sharply that she surrendered 
to him, and the gallant colonel, going on board of her with 
two companies of his battalion, crossed the river, took pos- 
session of the gun-boat, and brought both safely to the land- 
ing. While this fight was going on, another gun-boat (the 
No. 29) appeared above us, and coming to anchor about a 
mile and a half above our batteries, began to shell them. 
The upper battery (Rice's) returned a few shots, but finding 
that the distance was too great for effective firing, I directed 
it move up nearer to the boat and ordered a portion of my 
escort battalion and the cadet company of the Seventh Ala- 
bama Cavalry to support the battery and act as sharpshooters. 
After a brief and spirited engagement, the gun-boat weighed 
anchor and withdrew up the river. The Cheeseman was so 
badly injured that it was impossible to repair her with the 
means at our command, and she was afterwards burned by 
order of the major-general commanding, as were also the 
three barges captured on the same day. The transport, 
Venus, and the gun-boat. Undine, being only slightly in- 
jured, were soon put in repair by his order. These boats 
being bound down stream, after having delivered their cargoes 
of freight for the United States government at Johnsonville, 
contained no stores beyond the usual supplies for their own 
use and a small quantity of private freight of but little value 
for army use. The Undine belonged to the class of gun- 
boats known as "tin clads," and was one of the largest boats 
of her class on the river. She carried eight twentv four- 
pounder brass howitzers, and when captured had all of her 
armament and equipment on board of her. . . An at- 
tempt had been made to spike two of the guns and to dis- 
able one by placing a shell in its muzzle, but these were soon 
removed. 



212 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

I have been more minute than may seem to be necessary in 
giving the particulars of the capture of these boats, because 
I am aware that some dispute has arisen as to what troops are 
entitled to the honor of their capture. I do not regard this 
as a matter of much importance, since all that was done was but 
the execution of the plans of the major-general commanding, 
and whatever honor may arise therefrom is due first to him 
who conceived and then to those who executed them. All 
of the troops, so far as I am informed, acquitted themselves 
well, but I feel it is but just to those who took the most 
prominent part in the execution of those plans that they 
should receive the greater share of that honor which is the 
dearest reward of the soldier. I repeat, therefore, that when 
the Cheeseman was captured, there were six guns playing 
upon her, of which two (of Morton's battery) belonged to 
Colonel Bell's command, and four (two of Rice's and two of 
Hudson's battery) belonged to my command. They were 
placed on the bank of the river. Rice's being the upper, 
Hudson's the center, and Morton's the lower battery, and 
the boat was disabled before she had passed the center bat- 
tery by one of the first shots fired at her. 

The gun-boat. Undine, and the transport, Venus, were cap- 
tured after Colonel Bell had withdrawn his brigade, including 
his artillery, and when there were no troops present except- 
ing those belonging to this division. The troops immedi- 
ately engaged in the capture were the Fifteenth Regiment 
and the Twenty-sixth Battalion Tennessee Cavalry, and one 
section of Hudson's battery. It has been said, however, that 
these boats were badly crippled by Colonel Bell as they passed 
his position in the morning and before any part of this di- 
vision had arrived, but in reply to this I would respectfully 
say that the Venus was not materially injured when she was 
captured, as is shown by the fact that she was used immedi- 
ately afterward to tow the gun-boat to the landing. The shot 
which struck her injured her cabin and upper works, but had 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 213 

not damaged either her machinery or hull. Colonel Bell stated 
to me that, in obedience to orders, he did not fire at either of 
the boats until they had passed his position. This exposed 
their sterns and larboard sides to his fire, but the shot which 
disabled the Undine struck her in front and on the starboard 
side and could not have come from Colonel Bell's battery. In 
addition to this, the boat was manageable and maintained a 
sharp fight for some time after Colonel Bell had withdrawn 
his brigade. In view of these circumstances, I think it evi- 
dent that the greater share of the honor of capturing these 
boats belongs to those troops to whom they were actually sur- 
rendered. 

Our loss in this affair was one man of Rucker's brigade se- 
verely wounded. That of the enemy, so far as we have been 
able to ascertain it, was five killed and six wounded on the 
Venus, three killed and four wounded on the Undine, and one 
wounded on the Cheeseman. Total, eight killed and eleven 
wounded. We also captured forty-three prisoners, among 
whom was one officer and ten men of the United States in- 
fantry. The others belonged to different boats. 

On the morning of November ist, I moved my command 
up the river as far as Danville, where we encamped, placing 
our guns in position on the river bank so as to protect our 
boats (the Undine and Venus), which had been ordered to 
move up the river, keeping in rear of our batteries. On 
the following morning, I moved toward Reynoldsburg, in ac- 
cordance with previous instructions, but was afterward or- 
dered by the major-general commanding to halt near David- 
son's Ferry and to place my guns in position at that place, 
which was done. Our boats having ventured too far beyond 
the protection of our batteries, were attacked by two of the 
enemy's gun-boats, and the Venus was recaptured by them. 
On the 3d inst., we moved up the river opposite to Reynolds- 
burg and Johnsonville, and had frequent skirmishes during 
the day with the enemy's gun-boats, of which there were 



214 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

three at the latter place, but without any decisive results. 
Here we were joined by Colonel Mabry's brigade of cavalry, 
and Thrall's battery of twelve-pound howitzers, attached to 
this division, which had been left at Paris, and had moved 
directly from that place and taken position a short distance 
above Johnsonville. On the 4th inst.. General Buford hav- 
ing come up with his division and Morton's battery, the latter 
was ordered to the position occupied by Colonel Rucker, and 
my division was formed as follows : Colonel Mabry, with his 
brigade and Thrall's battery, on the right, immediately above 
and opposite to Johnsonville ; Colonel Rucker, with Morton's 
battery, and the Seventh Alabama Cavalry, immediately be- 
low and opposite to that place ; Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly, 
with the Twenty-sixth Tennessee battalion and two guns of 
Rice's battery, opposite to Reynoldsburg ; and Lieutenant- 
Colonel Logwood, of the Fifteenth Tennessee Cavalry, with 
his regiment and a section of Hudson's battery, at Clark's 
house, still further down the river, and about two miles below 
Johnsonville. 

The enemy had at Johnsonville three gun-boats and a num- 
ber of transports and barges, variously estimated at from 
eight to ten of the former and from twelve to fifteen of the 
latter — some of them laden, together with an immense quan- 
tity of government stores, a part of which was contained in a 
large warehouse, and the remainder piled upon the bank, 
covering about an acre of ground. The town was defended 
by a strong earth-work, well garrisoned and supplied with ar- 
tillery, and they possessed an additional advantage in the fact 
that the bank of the river on that side is much higher than 
that on which we were. 

At two p. M. the bombardment began, and in a short time 
one of the gun-boats was set on fire. One after another, the 
others followed, and before nightfall all of the gun-boats, 
transports, and barges, the warehouse, and the greater part 
of the stores on the shore, were set on fire and consumed. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 215 

The enemy kept up a heavy fire from their gun-boats and 
land batteries until the former were disabled, but without in- 
flicting any serious injury upon us, or forcing any part of our 
troops to abandon their position. During the engagement, 
five gun-boats came up the river, evidently with the mtention 
of reinforcing the town, but they retired after a sharp can- 
nonading with the artillery under Colonel Logwood's com- 
mand. 

Our loss in this engagement was very small, but as the offi- 
cial reports have not been received, it can not now be stated 
with accuracy. All the officers and men under my command 
deserve honorable mention for the very creditable manner in 
which they have borne themselves during the entire expedi- 
tion, and I do not desire to detract in the slightest degree 
from the honor due to the others in calling especial attention 
to the gallant conduct of the Seventh Alabama Cavalry in 
this their first engagement, and to the very effective service 
rendered by Thrall's battery in setting fire to the enemy's 
boats and stores. 

My thanks are due to the officers of my staff", and to Cap- 
tain Lawler, Seventh Tennessee Cavalry, and Lieutenant D. 
F. Holland, aide-de-camp to Major-General D. H. Maury, 
who were temporarily on staff duty with me, for their effi- 
cient services. 

I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

Jas. R. Chalmers, Brigadier-General. 
Major J. P. Strange, Asst. Adjt. -General, Forrest's Cavalry. 

Before leaving Mississippi, General Chalmers gave orders 
to Colonel R. F. Looney and Captain A. D. Bright to go 
into West Tennessee, in the neighborhood of Memphis and 
points north thereof, for the purpose of arresting and bring- 
ing into our lines such deserters and stragglers as could be 
found. These gentlemen were selected for the duty because 



216 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS. ETC.. 

of their familiarity with the country, and further because they 
were known to be men of nerve. They left the command 
at Como, and went direct to the house of Captain A. J. 
Hays, near Arlington, where they remained a few days per- 
fecting their plans, and greatly enjoying the hospitality of 
that elegant home and family. While sitting at the dinner 
table one day, soon after arriving at Captain Hays', a negro 
boy ran into the hall, crying out : " The Yankees are coming 
in the front gate." Colonel Looney and Bright had no hope 
of escape except by getting out the back way, which they 
proceeded to do with all the speed in their power. Bright, 
though a very large man, was exceedingly quick and active, 
and as strong as a horse. They managed to get into a corn 
field, and then separated, going in different directions. The 
enemy, however, followed on horseback, and fired on them 
as they went. A large Dutchman, mounted on a good horse 
in pursuit of Bright, called on him to halt. He exhausted the 
charges in his rifle, and began to curse, saying: "Halt, you 

d n rebel ! Do you think you can outrun a race horse ? " 

Of course, the Dutchman's horse finally overtook Bright, and 
he was forced to surrender. The Dutchman again said : 

"You d n rebel, you can run like a deer! You must be 

used to it." Both Bright and Looney were made prisoners 
and carried to Memphis. They reached Germantown, and 
were turned over to Colonel Lee, of the "Kansas Jay- 
hawkers," who escorted them into the city on the following 
day. On the trip from Germantown, the gentlemen had 
nothing better to do than to make a good impression on the 
"Jay-hawker," and by the time they arrived at Memphis had 
prevailed on him to let them go to the Gayoso Hotel. In- 



/X THE CONFEDERATE ARM}'. 217 

formation of their capture had preceded them, however, and 
when they reached the hotel, they were met by an orderly, 
who advised Colonel Lee that General Hurlbut desired the 
prisoners sent to his official headquarters, which were on 
Madison street, in the building now occupied by the "Com- 
mercial-Appeal." Arriving there, they found Major Bob San- 
ford and four other officers, who were also prisoners. An 
officer of General Hurlbut's staff (said to have been one of 
the most arrogant, impudent, and discourteous men in the 
army) greeted them by saying : "I think I can tame you 
chaps." Then, addressing the guard, said: "Put them in 
close confinement ; they will be held as hostages ! The rebel 
general, Tilghman, has sentenced a number of Federal sol- 
diers to be executed, and if he carries out his threat, we will 
kill each of these " (pointing to the seven Confederate officers 
before him). They were then hustled down the stairway and 
over to the "Irving Block Prison," on Second street, be- 
tween Court and Jefferson. They were placed in a back 
room and strongly guarded, but in a short time the officer 
ordered that they be moved to the third story, a dirty place, 
where thieves, thugs, and cut-throats were kept, and where 
vermin abounded. It was a serious situation, but Colonel 
Looney was not the man to submit to such indignities, even 
in the face of death, and therefore protested against it. He 
used strong language to the officer in charge, and denounced 
the action as an outrage. The officer admitted it was unusual 
to associate officers and gentlemen with the third story pris- 
oners, but said: " I understand you seven men will be shot, 
and it is necessary to take extra precaution to prevent your 
escape. I am ordered to see that nothing interferes with the 



218 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

proceedings." The gentlemen realized that unless something 
in the way of a miracle occurred their time on earth was of 
short duration. There was not a bed of any description in 
the long room, neither was there a chair or bench to sit on. 
They walked the floor all night. 

About sunrise the following morning Colonel Looney was 
standing at a window looking out on Court square, thinking 
doubtless of his once happy childhood, and the pleasant 
days spent in the little park before him, as compared to his 
present condition. Major Sanford, Captain Bright and the 
others were leaning against the begrimed walls, thinking of 
the horrors that seemed to await them. Colonel Looney 
saw a wagon approach and halt just opposite and below the 
window. It contained seven rough pine coffins, and one of 
them was much larger than the others. He was interested, of 
course, and deeply so, in ascertaining why the wagon halted 
in front of the window. He knew there was no epidemic in the 
city, therefore, seven coffins in one wagon was an unusual sight, 
but the colonel had remarkable nerve, and did not succumb to 
the dismal outlook. He called to Captain Bright to come 
over, and pointing out the wagon, said : " Bright, look ! 
There are seven of them, and I suppose the big one is for 
you." Bright looked the colonel full in the face and said : 
"Colonel Looney, you should not joke on facts, they make 
me shudder," and then returned to his corner in the dark 
and dirty room. About eight o'clock, Judge Nooe passed 
along the street, and Colonel Looney called to him, saying : 
"Do you understand the awful situation we are in? Try 
and do something for us. See Doctor Fowlkes and any 
others you can, and bring them up to see us quickly." Very 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM}\ 219 

soon four or five citizens called on General Hurlbut, and 
made an earnest prayer for the lives of the Confederate 
officers. In the meantime, one of the guards informed 
Colonel Looney that the seven coffins had been placed in the 
hall-way of the prison. About ten o'clock, a. m.. Colonel 
Sam. P. Walker (father of the present Judge S. P. Walker), 
Judge Nooe, Doctor Fowlkes, and a few others, called to see 
the gentlemen, and said: " Your friends are earnestly work- 
ing, and hoping to save you from death by agreeing to accept 
for you life sentences in the penitentiary at Alton." About 
four o'clock in the afternoon they were removed from the 
Irving Block to Fort Pickering, guarded by twenty or thirty 
soldiers. Nothing further had been said about a commuta- 
tion of the death sentence, and as they looked out of the 
window and watched the flow of the great Mississippi river, 
noting the bluff where, according to tradition, De Soto stood 
when he first beheld it, the future presented nothing but gloom 
and sadness. It was an ideal spot for an execution, and 
while they remained in the fort they had time to consider and 
discuss among themselves what was best to do with the few 
hours yet left to them. The following afternoon, about four 
o'clock, an officer announced to Colonel Looney that he was 
wanted in the city. As he walked to the gate he saw a car- 
riage standing there. Into this he was told to go, and then 
surrounded by guards on horseback, and with two armed 
men sitting opposite him, was driven toward the city, and 
halted on Shelby street, at a house where he met Colonel 
Walker, Dr. Fowlkes, and his own brother Dave (the latter 
having come down from Paducah.) They advised him that 
a number of jirominent gentlemen had tendered General 



220 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

Hurlbut a banquet that evening, on which occasion they 
hoped to obtain his consent to exchange them for some 
Federal officers, prisoners at Jackson, Mississippi. They be- 
heved it could be accomplished, and wanted the gentlemen 
to know what their hopes were, and what steps were being 
taken for their safety. Colonel Looney was returned to Fort 
Pickering, and gave the cheerful news to his comrades. The 
following morning, Colonel Walker, Dr. Fowlkes and Judge 
Nooe called to say that General Hurlbut had consented to 
let them go, provided an equal number of Federal officers 
of similar rank were released. But that in the event this 
could not be accomplished then they should return to 
Memphis as prisoners, and on those conditions they were 
escorted to the picket lines and turned adrift, and the seven 
men who had been so near the brink of all earthly hopes were 
free again. While bidding the officer of the guard good- 
bye. Bright wanted to know what would become of the seven 
coffins, now that they were released. Said the officer : " We 
will give you yours, if you want it." But the polite offer 
•was respectfully declined, with thanks. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 221 



CHAPTER XXIL 

The Effort to Cross the Tennessee River at Perry- 
viLLE — Forrest and Chalmers build Boats, Cross 
THE River at Florence, Alabama — Wagons and 
Negroes Captured — A Dutch Officer bested by a 
Negro — Desperate Charge at Henryville — The 
Great Mistake at Spring Hill — The Battle of 
Franklin — Arrival at Vicinity of Nashville. 

We reached Perryville and found General Forrest building 
a ferry-boat. There were a few vacant store-houses, which 
he tore down for the material. He had his staff officers and 
escort company carrying plank and scantling on their 
shoulders down to the river. The general was ripping off 
weather-boarding with his own hands, and "guying" the 
members of his staff because they did not carry better loads. 
General Chalmers with his staff and escort was the next to 
reach Perryville. He learned from General Forrest what his 
purpose was, and decided to try his skill in building a boat 
also. He called on us to get to work. It was very muddy. 
.Some of ihe staff and several of the escort who usually wore 
tolerably good clothes made very wry faces, but all hands 
were soon busy, and within two hours our boat was riding 
the waters, not as gracefully as a swan, but as proudly. It 
was arranged to begin the crossing early on the morning of 
November the 7th, but we soon discovered that our boats 
were unsafe, and they were abandoned. The wagon train 
reached us about nine o'clock with two large yawls, which 



222 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

Colonel Rucker had taken from the Venus. These were 
used by the men to cross, and the horses were made to 
swim. The river was rising rapidly, and a quantity of drift- 
wood in the river made it dangerous. So, after crossing the 
Seventh Tennessee and Kelly's regiment (about four hundred 
as good men as ever answered roll-call), General Forrest de- 
cided to abandon any further effort on Perryville. He gave 
Colonel Rucker orders to move to Mount Pleasant, and re- 
port to General Hood. We bade the boys good-bye with 
some apprehensions, but we knew if any four hundred men 
in the world could take care of themselves, Rucker and his 
men could. We moved to Florence, Ala., via luka ; the 
roads were as muddy as could be, and it continued to rain 
day and night. Our horses were broken down for want of 
food. General Forrest gave instructions to send men out 
along the line of march and exchange the broken down 
horses for fresh ones, but there were none to be had. The 
artillery made slow headway. Finally General Chalmers 
found a lot of oxen, which he used for the artillery, and we 
reached luka, November 13th, after the most disagreeable 
march we ever had. We rested two days, and left luka on 
the i6th, and on the afternoon of the 17th, reached Florence, 
where w^e found General Hood's army encamped. Hood's 
men cheered us as we passed along. They had heard noth- 
ing but good reports of Forrest's cavalry. We crossed the 
river on a pontoon bridge, and went into camp on Shoal 
creek, distant about two and one-half miles. General Hood 
was detained at Florence awaiting supplies, and the nearest 
railroad station to Florence was Cherokee, sixteen miles, be- 
tween which points the roads were almost impas^.ible. It 



AV THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. Tl'?> 

would seem, therefore, that the movement to Nashville was 
a failure before the army crossed the river. It was a desper- 
ate condition, however, which confronted the Confederate 
cause, and nothing was left but desperate chances. This 
fact was well known to our men, and yet they were ready 
to move forward, and to do every thing in their power to 
change the current of events. Early on the morning of 
November the iSth, our command moved toward Henry- 
ville, Tenn,, followed by the wagons which contained all we 
had, together with several of our negroes. General Chal- 
mers with his staff and escort bringing up the rear an hour 
later. We had gone about a mile, when it was discovered 
that our plunder was scattered along the road and in the 
woods. We followed the trail in a gallop. It was evident 
that the enemy had captured the wagons and possibly the 
troops. General Chalmers determined to find out. We 
passed empty wagons locked against trees, and other evi- 
dences of a hasty retreat. It was a rough, rocky country. 
Finally we came in sight of the enemy with our mules, 
drivers, and negroes. They had lost the direction, and were 
returning on the same trail they went. As we rode to the 
top of a hill, and started down, the enemy was coming down 
an opposite hill meeting us. General Chalmers was mad. 
He called out: "Charge them! Charge them!" We 
raised a yell and began firing at them. The enemy was 
about four hundred strong, but they had lost hope, and ran 
in every direction. The escort rushed at them, and suc- 
ceeded in capturing nearly all, together with our mules and 
negroes. 

Major Mills had a very handsome little sorrel horse which 



224 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

Boston was leading when captured. He had a sore back. 
When Boston recognized us, and saw the " Yanks" running, 
he ahnost went wild with joy. After quiet was restored, 
and the prisoners stood corralled, prior to marching off, Bos- 
ton began in a very loud voice to tell how it all came about. 
He was not gifted with intellect, nor with extraordinary ora- 
torical power, yet he made a reputation that day as a 
talker. Finally he caught sight of a big fat Dutchman with 
sergeant's stripes on his arms, and he went at him with the 
fury of a panther. He said: "You! You! You! wus de 
berry ole Dutch Yankee whut tuck Mars Andrew's filly." 
He snatched the Dutchman's hat (a nice felt one), and began 
to kick him, and no doubt would have injured him but for 
the intervention of Captain Goodman, who made him be- 
have. 

We captured about three hundred prisoners and horses. 
The escort company and some of the staff exchanged their 
broken-down horses for the fresh ones, and after some delay 
all the plunder was gathered together, and the wagons pro- 
ceeded on the journey. The enemy's force was a scouting 
party, sent out to discover our position, and by accident fell 
in behind us. The escort boys were heroes. Sixty-five men 
charged and killed or captured over three hundred, without 
the loss of a man. We reached a little place called West- 
Point, and remained there until the 23d of November, when 
Colonel Rucker joined us, and we had great rejoicing at 
finding the boys all right. We moved on the 23d to Henry- 
ville, Rucker in advance. He met a cavalry force about an 
hour before night, some two thousand strong, which he at- 
tacked at once. Generals Forrest and Chalmers joined him 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM!'. 22o 

in a short time. Our force was less than a thousand men. 
The balance of Rucker's brigade was some five miles in the 
rear. General Forrest ordered Colonel Kelly to take his 
regiment to the left of the pike, and attack the enemy in 
the rear, while with his escort company he went to the right. 
General Chalmers remained with Rucker, and pressed the 
enemy back gradually. General Forrest soon struck his rear 
with his escort company, and created a panic. It was just 
getting dark, and the enemy were filing into the woods to 
go into camp. They did not think we were mean enough 
to continue the fight after night. General Forrest dashed 
through their ranks, and scattered them in great confusion. 
The force which General Chalmers was fighting, hearing the 
firing in their rear, retreated. General Forrest, with his escort 
concealed on the side of the road, poured a deadly volley 
into them as they passed, killing about sixty, and creating the 
wildest stampede. In the meantime, Chalmers and Rucker, 
hearing the firing, and noting the panic, charged in column, 
the men yelling like Indians, driving or capturing every 
thing before them. The darkness made it awful for the 
enemy. 

The following morning, Rucker again took the advance, 
and caught the rear of the enemy about half way between 
Mount Pleasant and Columbia. He drove them beyond a 
creek near Columbia, where tliey took cover behind breast- 
works. In the last charge on that day, November 24th, 
Colonel \V. A. Dawson was killed. We saw his body lying 
beside the pike as we followed Rucker. He was a gallant 
officer. 

General Scofield, with an army of twenty-two thousand 



226 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC. 

infantry, and eight thousand cavalry, was strongly intrenched 
at Columbia. His force was equal to General Hood's. We 
drove his pickets in on the 25th, and could see their lines of 
battle awaiting us. General Chalmers made his headquarters 
at General Lucius Polk's, from which place we rode out on 
the morning of the 26th, and found that Colonel Rucker had 
advanced his line some three hundred yards, driving the en- 
emy from his outer rail works. There was a mill by the 
pike, where Generals S. D. Lee, Forrest, and Chalmers went 
to take observations from the second story. They noticed 
the enemy moving to cut Rucker off, and General Chalmers 
directed Bleecker to see him quickly, and tell him to fall 
back to his original position. Bleecker rode off, passing 
through an orchard, where the enemy's shells were clipping 
off limbs, and plowing up the ground. He reached Colonel 
Rucker, who was some distance in front of his line, and de- 
livered the order, and started on his return, when a grape- 
shot struck the pummel of his saddle and shattered it. The 
shot passed within one inch of his body, but that fact did 
not trouble him so much as the loss of his fine "Texas 
saddle." 

Walton's battery in the meantime was giving the enemy 
much annoyance. It was in position about half a mile to 
the left of the mill, throwing shell into the enemy's 
works. Walton was a splendid officer, young, brave, and 
dashing. He was probably one of the best shots in the ar- 
tillery service, and could often, after a few trials, put his 
shells wherever he chose. General Chalmers, with the aid 
of a glass, discovered that Walton was landing shells very 
successfully, and suggested a ride over to his position. Gen- 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM}'. 227 

erals S. D. Lee, Forrest, and himself, followed by their staff 
officers, soon reached Walton, who was enjoying the work 
fully as much as a boy does playing "sweep-stakes." We were 
there but a few minutes when the enemy, no doubt thinking 
the thing had gone far enough, opened on Walton with thirty 
or forty guns. The earth trembled. Probably a hundred 
big shells exploded above us in less than half a minute, 
fragments flying in all directions. A caisson was blown up 
at the same time, making the explosion terrible. After the 
smoke had partially cleared away, we saw General Lee sit- 
ting on his horse, calm and motionless, not in the slightest 
degree excited, while the rest of us, including General For- 
rest, were on the ground, and several of the horses gone. 
We were not long in getting away from there. Fully half of 
Walton's horses were killed before he could get under cover. 
General Chalmers said afterward, that when he saw General 
Lee so undisturbed, he felt ashamed, but on finding General 
Forrest off of his horse, and hearing him say, "Get away 
from here," he thought he could stand it. 

A moment before the shell from the enemy's gun struck 
the caisson, Corporal John T. Moore was squatting in rear 
of the limber chest, cutting the fuse of a shell for one of the 
guns. He was interested in getting the exact time for the 
fuse, when the explosion occurred. Moore was thrown high 
in the air and fell upon his back, badly bruised and his cloth- 
ing torn into shreds. He was wearing a long gray blanket 
overcoat, which was wrecked. After regaining his feet, 
pointing to the scraps of coat, he said: "That d n Yan- 
kee has destroyed my coat." 

We spent the night at the beautiful home of General 



228 PERSOAAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

Lucius Polk, whose kindness, hospitality, and HberaHty will 
never be forgotten as long as there is one of us left. He was 
a grand man and a worthy representative of that distinguished 
class which has nearly become extinct. During the night of 
the 27th, General Schofield crossed his army to the north bank 
of Duck river. General Forrest, acting under orders from 
General Hood, sent General Chalmers with his division to 
cross seven miles above Columbia, at what was called the 
"Cedars." General Buford crossed below, while General 
W. H. Jackson crossed still higher up than General Chalmers 
did. We made the passage without special incident, and 
moved along slowly for four or five miles, through a rugged 
and rocky woods. General Forrest sent an officer to General 
Chalmers, saying that General Buford had met with stubborn 
resistance, and as yet had not been able to cross the river. 
We then went into bivouac, and early next morning received 
orders to press the enemy's cavalry, and, if possible, get in 
their rear. We had gone but a short distance when our ad- 
vance found them in line, but they were nervous. 

Captain Bill Tucker was commanding what we called the 
escort battalion, composed of Raines' company, the escort 
company, and two other unattached companies. When our 
advance guard began firing, General Chalmers ordered Cap- 
tain Tucker to charge. There were a number of cedar trees 
which had been blown down, probably years before, the 
limbs of which were as hard and as strong as a buck's horn. 
Tucker was a gallant fellow. He was brave to recklessness. 
As he rode by at the head of the battalion. General Chalmers 
said: "Captain Tucker, break that line." His boys re- 
sponded beautifully. They went sailing through the woods, 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMl'. 229 

yelling at the top of their voices. Tucker rode a very hand- 
some horse, which belonged to his brother, '• Fenton," called 
"Duff Green." He was known by nearly all the men in the 
division, because of his style and gaits. Several of the es- 
cort rode abreast of Tucker. They were high-strung, spir- 
ited fellows, who would not permit Tucker to lead, and no 
man could lead Tucker. On they rode with the fury of 
lightning, firing their pistols as they went. There was a 
large cedar tree before them, the limbs pointing in our direc- 
tion. Tucker, heedless of every thing, expected "Duff 
Green" to clear it, but that was impossible. He made the 
effort, when a sharp-pointed limb caught him and passed en- 
tirely through, killing him. Tucker was soon mounted on 
another horse, and went at them again. The enemy gave 
way, but we had continuous fighting through the day, reach- 
ing Spring Hill about four in the afternoon. 

Several of those gallant boys of the escort company were 
afterward killed, and a few only survive to-day. Among 
those living are : Frank M. Norfleet, of Memphis ; Oliver D. 
Sledge, of Como, Miss.; Dr. Tom M. Jones, of Hernando; 
and D. W. Wagner and T. J. McFarland, of Water Valley, 
Miss. 

Our men had been fighting on foot almost continuously 
during the day, and the country over which we passed was 
rugged and thickly covered with stubby cedar trees and 
bushes. Therefore, the command was out of ammunition 
and broken down. At Spring Hill we found a cavalry force 
in line of battle, which Colonel Rucker easily dispersed, 
but they retired behind a long line of breast-works, which 
were filled with a corps of infantry. Rucker withdrew and 



230 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

reported the fact to General Chalmers, when they both rode 
forward to investigate further, and found as Colonel Rucker 
had stated. Very soon the enemy's stragglers began to pass 
along, and from those captured we ascertained that fully as 
many more infantry, besides artillery, were on the march 
from Columbia to Spring Hill. It was plain, therefore, that 
we were in the rear of the enemy. This was the situation 
when General Forrest rode up, but in the meantime about 
two hundred of the enemy's cavalry had returned to the po- 
sition from which General Rucker had driven them, and 
General Forrest, observing them, said to General Chalmers : 
"Why don't you drive those fellows off?"' General Chal- 
mers answered: " Why, there are three divisions of infantry 
in breast-works behind the cavalry, and, further, my men are 
out of ammunition and broken down." Said General For- 
rest : "I think you are mistaken ; that is only a small cavalry 
force. I will lend you Wilson's regiment, which, together 
with your escort company, will drive them away." General 
Chalmers felt that he could not argue the matter further, so 
said: "All right; let me have Wilson; I will try it." Soon 
the line was formed, with the general and his staff and escort 
on the right. He gave the command, "forward, gallop," 
and immediately Carson sounded the charge. The escort 
began to yell, and Wilson's men took it up. We charged 
through a beautiful grove, the men urging their horses. 
General Chalmers was leading, and they were determined to 
be with him. General Forrest watched the charge, which 
also put the, men on their mettle, and there was not a laggard 
in the line. We had almost reached the edge of the woods 
when the shock came. Twenty pieces of artillery opened 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM}'. 281 

upon us, followed by the fire of a long line of infantry. 
Horses tumbled over each other, and fell, men were shot, 
and horses galloped away riderless, and limbs and bark cov- 
ered the ground. It was a dreadful few minutes, and it all 
happened very quickly. There was no command given to 
fall back, but when the smoke rose above there were only 
four men in their places — General Chalmers, Lieutenant 
"Elbert Oliver," of Raine's company, Frank M. Norfleet, 
and Carson, the bugler. They were together, but the next 
moment Oliver and Carson were shot down. Then Norfleet 
said: "General, every body but you and me have been 
killed or wounded; let us get away," and they rode to the 
rear. After getting out of range. General Chalmers and 
Norfleet halted, and, returning to the command, met General 
Forrest, who said: "General Chalmers, you were right. 
They were there. " "Yes," replied General Chalmers, "that 
is the second time I found them there." Soon General Bu- 
ford reached us with his division, and he and Generals For- 
rest and Chalmers made a reconnaissance. Returning, Gen- 
eral Forrest ordered the line forward for a demonstration. 
We could not make an attack because both divisions were out 
of ammunition. Chalmers was on the right, and, every thing 
ready, we moved forward, driving the enemy's skirmishers, 
who withdrew to the breast-works. We remained in that 
position but a short time, when Cheatham's corps came up. 
General Cleburne was the first infantry officer to arrive. lie 
formed his division on our left, and we charged with him. 
It was well understood thai our command had no ammuni- 
tion, and the only thing we could do was to yell. General 
Cleburne was riding a tall bay horse, and presented a very 



232 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

soldierly appearance. The enemy could not stand the on- 
slaught, and fell back from the works they were in to another 
and stronger line. By this time it was nearly night, and we 
retired to feed our horses and get ammunition, while Cleburne 
held the position he had gained. Soon the firing ceased, 
and General Cleburne rode back, I presume, for orders. 
Meeting General Chalmers, he remarked: "They are badly 
paralyzed. I rode within fifty yards of their works without 
danger." At that moment blood tricked out of a wound in 
his horse's neck. As we rode to camp, we met Brown's di- 
vision, of Cheatham's corps, standing in column. The 
writer heard a conversation between Generals Brown and 
Chalmers on the situation. General Chalmers said: " I be- 
lieve that, if you will join General Cleburne, and make a 
vigorous attack, you can capture or rout the force in his 
front." General Brown replied : " I have no orders." Gen- 
eral Chalmers said: "I would make the attack without or- 
ders, general. I am confident it is a great opportunity ; the 
enemy is very uneasy, and could be whipped and captured 
before the balance of Schofield's army can come to his as- 
sistance." General Brown answered: " I will await orders." 
There was a nice large residence in the suburbs, which 
we passed when we arrived at Spring Hill. We rode there 
hoping to get something to eat, and met General Forrest and 
his staff. Our horses were fed in the yard, and we sat 
around on the gallery. About nine o'clock an officer of 
General Forrest's escort reported that General Cleburne had 
withdrawn his command, and that the enemy was moving 
toward Franklin. General Forrest then mounted his horse 
and went in person to see General Hood (whom we 



AV THE COXFEDERATE ARMY. 233 

understood had his headquarters about a mile distant) and 
advised him fully of the situation. It was said at that time 
that General Hood stated to General Forrest that General 
Cheatham's corps held possession of the turnpike, but Gen- 
eral Forrest assured him that such was not the case. Gen- 
eral Hood then asked General Forrest if he could not quickly 
obstruct the pike, and prevent the enemy's retreat until he 
could get Cheatham in position. General Forrest repHed 
that Chalmers and Buford were out of ammunition, but 
that General W. H. Jackson would do every thing in his 
power to check the retreat. General Hood assured General 
Forrest that his corps commander would supply Chalmers and 
Buford at once with ammunition, but this was not done until 
the following morning, when General Walthall furnished 
twenty rounds of ammunition to the man. The ordnance 
wagons had not yet reached us, and no more could be 
obtained. During the night of November 29th, at Spring 
Hill, General Schofield's army passed along the pike in 
sight of our camp without any interference. Numbers of 
stragglers left the line of march to stop at our camp fires. 
They were entirely ignorant of the fact that we were in their 
rear. The greatest opportunity ever presented to an army 
to capture or annihilate an opposing army was neglected at 
Spring Hill. The advance corps of General Schofield's 
army, which we found at Spring Hill, separated some six or 
eight miles from the balance of his command, was in a 
panicky condition, and there is no doubt had the divisions of 
Cleburne and Brown been thrown against them the army 
would have surrendered. There was great disappointment 
at that time, and a certain officer was severely criticised, but 



234 PERSONAL RECOLLECriONS, ETC., 

nothing has been written concerning the responsibihty since, 
and the writer will pass it by. It must be recognized that 
General Hood displayed much shrewdness and ability in 
getting to the rear of General Schofield. It was a masterly 
move, and somebody was responsible for not winning a great 
victory. We left Spring Hill about nine, a. m., and crossed 
over to Carter's creek turnpike, going toward Franklin, which 
place we reached about 2:30, p. m. We were the first troops 
to arrive, and constituted the extreme left of the army. Our 
advance guard encountered and drove the enemy's pickets to 
a stone fence, where they made a stand, but the Seventh 
Tennessee moved forward and drove them back into their 
breast-works. Very soon we could see our army arriving. 
Groups of officers on horseback were halted on top of the 
hill overlooking the town, taking observations and receiving 
orders. General Forrest with Buford's and Jackson's di- 
visions was on the right of the enemy, therefore General 
Chalmers reported directly to General Hood. From our 
position we could see three lines of breast-works encircling 
the town, and each line was full of infantry and artillery. 
General Chalmers sent his adjutant general, Captain Good- 
man, to see General Hood, and explain the situation and 
ask for orders. Captain Goodman returned with orders to 
charge the enemy at once. General Chalmers, believing 
that Cieneral Hood did not understand the strength of the 
enemy in liis front, sent Lieutenant Bleecker to him, with 
additional information of the enemy's force and position, and 
he received the same or similar answer. When Bleecker 
reached General Hood he heard him say to General Cheat- 
ham : "Get your men in position, and bring on the fight," 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMl'. 235 

or something to that effect. General Cheatham turned to 
several general officers in the group and said : '•' You hear 
the order," and General Brown repeated the same thing to 
his brigadiers, "You hear the order. " Immediately they all 
galloped off in the direction of their respective commands, 
and soon the brigades were moving in columns of regiments 
down the hill and toward the enemy. Bleecker noticed a 
young man with a brigadier's uniform on and asked Captain 
Wigfall, of General Hood's staff, who he was. Said he, 
" That is General Gordon." " No," said Bleecker, " I have 
often seen General Gordon with the Army of Northern 
Virginia, that is not he." " But," said Wigfall, " that is George 
W. Gordon of Tennessee." He was mounted on a very hand- 
some iron-gray horse, and looked every inch an ideal soldier. 
Bleecker watched him as he rode away. He was a superb 
horseman, and wore a bright new uniform and sword. 
Bleecker was jjarticularly attracted by his youthfulness, and 
was anxious to see him under fire. As he rode back to Gen- 
eral Chalmers with the orders he saw General Gordon form 
his line, then dismount and take position on foot, in front of 
his brigade. In a few moments he advanced, and became 
obscured by the smoke of battle. 

If hell be more terrifying than the scenes of the six or 
seven hours which followed the one above described on the 
hill overlooking Franklin, on the afternoon of November 30, 
1864, then I abjure mankind to halt and consider. General 
Chalmers charged across a cornfield, and drove the enemy 
from his first line of works, which we then occupied, and 
from which we continued a desultory firing until the enemy 
began to retreat, about one a. m. To our right the fighting 



236 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

was hot and fast. Great clouds of smoke overhung both 
lines, and we could only see the continued flashes of the 
guns. Our troops were at a great disadvantage. They could 
not use the artillery, because it would have demolished the 
city of Franklin and killed her noble and patriotic women. 
The enemy's artillery was used with terrible effect. Shells 
went crashing and shrieking through the air, and smashing 
and bounding over and into the ground, oftentimes explod- 
ing under the ground, and throwing up great mountains of 
earth. The air was filled with a whizzing blare, and after 
night came on the scene was sublimely and awfully grand. 
The shells could be followed by the burning fuses, which 
flashed and twittered like thousands of sky-rockets, and when 
they burst all the sizzling sounds of hell could be heard. 
There was no music in them, and only those who have heard 
the wicked things have any conception of their shrill and 
dreadful noise. Hundreds of these horrible shells were fired 
at us every few minutes for five hours. It looked as if the 
devil had full possession of the earth. 

When Cleburne's and Brown's divisions moved forward, 
they charged across an open field and drove the enemy from 
the first line of earthworks, and followed him closely into 
the inner works. In that fearful struggle, hundreds of brave 
men gave up their lives. Men who had served from the be- 
ginning, and had suffered through the campaigns of Bragg 
and Joe Johnson, but they fought with fierce energy, and 
threw themselves against the enemy's works with the mad- 
ness of despair. Every color-bearer was shot down, and 
each succeeding hero who dared to raise them was killed. It 
is impossible to exaggerate the conduct of the Confederates 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM!'. 237 

at Franklin. Of the twelve generals whom Bleecker saw in 
conference with General Hood just prior to the attack, five 
were killed, three wounded, and one captured. General 
John Adams, on horseback, leading his men, bounded over 
the enemy's works, and grasped the flag of the Sixty-fifth Il- 
linois regiment and bore it to the ground. Was there ever a 
more gallant deed ? He knew full well it was a sacrifice of 
his life, but he did not hesitate. He and his noble steed died 
side by side at the same instant. And the gallant, devoted, 
and chivalrous Cleburne was killed not more than fifty yards 
from the enemy's works, as was also Generals Granberry, of 
the famous Texas brigade, Strahl and Gist, of Cheatham's 
corps, while Generals Cockrell, Quarls, and Brown were 
wounded. 

Bleecker's hero, General George W. Gordon, followed the 
enemy into his last works, where his men and those of the 
enemy fought with such desperation that Gordon's command 
was almost annihilated. They were within five feet of each 
other. Nothing but a bank of earth divided them. The 
enemy's position on both the right and the left enabled him, 
therefore, to enfilade Gordon's line. It was madness to con- 
tinue the struggle, and some of Gordon's men attempted to 
retreat, every one of whom were killed. Finally others 
called out to the enemy that they would surrender, and they 
crawled over the bank, leaving General Gordon and a few 
men who were near him. The enemy's fire was so deadly 
that the few left protected themselves behind the bodies of 
their dead comrades. But, except General Gordon and two 
others, those few men were soon killed, and he then gave his 
white handkerchief to one of the two, who tied it on his 



238 rEJ^SONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

bayonet and raised it above the works. The surrender was 
accepted, but as they stepped down into the ditch, a " beast " 
wearing a Federal uniform made a vicious strike at General 
Gordon's head with the butt of his gun. A Federal officer 
partially warded off the blow and saved his life, but he re- 
ceived a painful wound on the shoulder. 

We revere the memories of the distinguished dead, the 
privates not less than the generals. The men who gave up 
their lives at Franklin on the Confederate side were martyrs 
to a hopeless cause. They felt regret at the lost opportunity 
at Spring Hill (not their fault), and went blindly forth to re- 
trieve the errors, and were willing to redeem the mistakes of 
their officers with their lives, if necessary. We can not over- 
estimate their noble and heroic deeds. Every American cit- 
izen should feel a pride in cherishing the memory of the gal- 
lant men who stormed the works at Franklin, as well as those 
who defended them. There are some who participated in 
that dreadful battle living, but history will never do justice to 
their bravery, trials, and sufferings, and on the roll of honor 
among the living, none deserve more admiration and respect 
than the modest and chivalrous gentleman whom Memphis 
feels proud to claim, in the person of General Geo. W. 
Gordon. 

When daylight dawned on Franklin, Tenn., December i, 
1864, the scene was indescribable. About five thousand 
Confederates and two thousand Federals lay dead or wounded 
in and around the Federal breast-works. In many instances. 
Confederates and Federals lay across each other, and there 
was one case where a Confederate and a Federal were found 
dead in the ditch, the Confederate grasping the Federal's 



AV THE CONFEDERATE A EMI'. 239 

throat. Notwithstanding General Schofield retreated about 
two A. M., leaving his dead and wounded in our hands, our 
army was badly whipped. The men "knew that no earthly 
good had been accomplished, and that the flower of the army 
had fallen. They had hoped for brilliant results in Tennes- 
see, but met disaster. They could never again look into the 
faces of the noble men, the pride and glory of so many bat- 
tles, who lay dead upon the field at Franklin, and their hearts 
were filled with gloom and sorrow. And this was the condi- 
tion of Hood's army as it moved toward Nashville. During 
the night, Bleecker's horse was killed, but Colonel McGavock, 
a distinguished citizen of Franklin, presented him with a fine 
colt, a four-year-old thoroughbred, and which had never be- 
fore been saddled. Colonel McGavock had two negroes to 
assist in putting the saddle and bridle on, and then Bleecker 
mounted. The colt stood on his hind legs first, then on his 
front. He reared and ripped and plunged all around the lot. 
The negroes ran into the barn, and the boys of the escort 
looked on from the outside and laughed. There seemed to 
be no end of the colt's ambition to throw Bleecker off, but he 
finally quieted down and fell in with the escort company and 
became a cavalry horse. 

The night of December ist, we arrived at the hospitable 
home of Colonel John Overton, where we remained until the 
following morning. It was a typical " Southern gentleman's 
palace," situated in a beautiful grove, surrounded by well- 
cultivated acres, fine orchards, herds of thoroughbred cattle, 
a stable of blooded horses, and a retinue of trained servants ; 
and we were royally received and charmingly entertained. 
Miss White May, a most accomplished and patriotic young 



240 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

lady, a member of Colonel Overton's family, contributed 
very much to our pleasure, and won the admiration and es- 
teem of General Chalmers and his staff. Our chief surgeon, 
Dr. G. W. Henderson, a gentleman of the most accom- 
plished manners, who had the highest appreciation of ladies 
of almost any man the writer ever knew, expressed to Miss 
May, upon our leaving the ne.xt day, the great happiness he 
felt, and assured her that he would never forget ihe visit to 
her home. The doctor, I am sure, made a favorable and 
pleasant impression on the family. He was a good conversa- 
tionalist, a talent inherited, no doubt, from his distinguished 
ancestor, Chief-Justice Henderson, of North Carolina. 
Bleecker and the doctor were the last to leave, and they 
were both willing to surrender, but circumstances would not 
permit. They finally said good-bye and rode toward the 
"big gate." The doctor had loaned one of his pistols to a 
friend, and the remaining one kept him busy keeping his 
holster in place on the front of his saddle. They had gone 
about fifty yards, when the holster, to which was attached 
his halter-rein, fell to the ground, and the horse, becoming 
frightened, made a sudden bound, turning the saddle and 
throwing the doctor off. Bleecker was greatly alarmed for 
the safety of his friend, but the fiery colt which he was riding 
began to plunge, and he was unable to dismount for some 
minutes. Miss White May and Mrs. Overton, seeing the 
doctor on the ground, and supposing he was dangerously 
hurt, ran as rapidly as they could to his assistance. The 
doctor gained a sitting posture, but his back being toward 
the house, he did not see the ladies approaching, and just as 
they came within speaking distance, he began to curse his 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 241 

horse for being such a d fool. Then, turning his head, 

he saw the ladies, sprang to his feet, and begged pardon for 
his hasty words. The ladies made no reply, but with sincere 
concern urged him to return to the house. He assured 
them he was not hurt, and soon we were galloping on to 
catch the command. After going some distance, they 
halted, when the doctor asked Bleecker if he remembered 
what he said, because it was very certain the ladies heard 
him, and he was deeply grieved. He declared he would 
never swear again, and told Bleecker he must never speak 
of the circumstance to any one. Said he: "The thought 

of the d old horse throwing me in the presence of 

ladies!" 

We reached the vicinity of Nashville, and General Chal- 
mers was invited to make his headquarters at historic " Belle 
Meade," the home of General W. G. Harding. We occupied 
all that portion of the line extending from the Harding pike 
to the Cumberland river. Each morning we rode out to the 
line and returned about four in the afternoon for dinner. On 
December 6th, General Hood notified General Chalmers that 
General Stewart would relieve him on the Harding pike, and 
that he could move his troops at once to the Charlotte pike 
near the river, and orders were sent to Colonel Rucker ac- 
cordingly, and he withdrew. When we reached the line we 
found a brigade of infantry (Ector's) standing in column. 
Soon General Stewart rode up, and asked about the distance 
to the picket line. General Chalmers answered that his 
force had been relieved, that he had no pickets on the Hard- 
ing pike, and suggested that a line be advanced at once. 
General Stewart then requested General Chalmers to send 



242 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

out a squad to locate the enemy's lines. He called on 
Bleecker to take five men from the escort company and do 
this. Bleecker selected D. R. Wagner, W. J. Hughes, F. M. 
Norfleet, J. T. West, and W. G. Robinson. There was a 
heavy fog that morning which prevented them from seeing 
distinctly more than thirty yards beyond them. They rode 
on about half a mile, and suddenly came in sight of a fire 
on the side of the pike and heard men talking. Bleecker 
halted, and called on Dan Wagner to go forward with him to 
ascertain whether they were friends or foes, and left the other 
four to await developments. Bleecker was riding the high- 
strung McGavock colt, and proceeded cautiously to within 
twenty yards of the fire before they were discovered, when 
a man said: "Look there! Look there!" and quickly a 
considerable squad began firing. Bleecker and his party 
wheeled and ran. They went racing down the pike, and the 
enemy continued to fire, but fortunately neither of them was 
hurt. Bleecker discovered that he had a great horse, which 
ran easily ahead of the others, but when he wanted to halt, 
that was another question. He neared the point where Gen- 
erals Stewart and Chalmers were, and began to pull his 
rein, but the colt went bounding on like a frightened deer. 
He ran fully half a mile before he stopped, and when he 
returned General Chalmers had moved on. He did not find 
him again during the day. All the boys wanted the McGavock 
colt. 

General Forrest, with Buford's and Jackson's divisions, was 
at Murfreesboro, and remained in that vicinity until after the 
disaster at Nashville, 




Lieut. Bleecker, Sept., 1S64. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMi\ 248 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

The Battle of Nashville — Very Cold Weather — Hun- 
dreds OF Men Barefooted — General Chalmers' 
Gallant Fight at Davidson's Landing — Colonel 
Rucker's Personal Fight and Capture — General 
Forrest Saves the Army — Recross the Tennessee 
River. 

On the 9th of December, the weather became very cold, 
and a heavy fall of snow was followed by sleet. The in- 
fantry suffered very greatly. Many of them were without 
shoes, and had very scant clothing, but, fortunately, there 
was little or no fighting; therefore, they could remain by the 
fires when not on duty. During that awful weather, General 
Chalmers and his staff were the guests at "Belle Meade," 
the hospitable home of General Harding. Mrs. Harding was 
a lady of marked character and ability. She presided over 
that grand old home with unsurpassed elegance, and I venture 
to speak for all the party, when I say they were never better 
or more hospitably entertained. General Harding had two 
daughters. The eldest, Miss Seline, barely grown, while the 
other. Miss Mary, was scarcely more than a child, and yet 
she was capable of entertaining the most intelligent men of 
the party. They were both very patriotic and loyal to the 
cause, but Miss Seline was enthusiastic. Dr. Henderson 
would tell Bleecker, after they retired at night, about his 
hunt for human happiness. Said he: "I have at last found 
it. Here is a man with vast estates, surrounded bv all the 



244 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

comforts and luxuries which the most cultivated mind can 
suggest, an accomplishrd wife and lovely daughters; what 
else can he desire ? The doctor employed the choicest 
rhetoric in speaking of Miss Seline. He thought she was 
the most beautiful and interesting girl he had ever met, and 
that was the opinion also of the others. One night during 
the inclement weather, Mrs. Harding made a large bowl of 
snow cream. The doctor was very fond of it, and she gave 
him a smaller bowl to take to our room. After eating what 
we wanted, he placed the bowl on the window-sill outside of 
the blind, and cautioned Bleecker not to open the blind for 
fear of knocking it off. The general had given instructions 
for an early start the following morning. The curtains in 
our room were closely drawn, and the blinds being closed, 
we did not awake until Captain Goodman walked into the 
room, calling on us to get up. The doctor sprang out of bed 
and threw open the blinds to see how late it was. Of course, 
it was the very window in which he left the snow cream, and 
the bowl was thrown to the stone walk below. The doctor 
was grieved very greatly, and walked the room and swore at 
his bad luck. Said he : " If it had been an ordinary bowl, I 
could replace it ; in fact, it would be unnecessary to do so. 
But it was a piece of that beautiful set of imported ware, 
which can not be matched in the world." Bleecker felt 
much sympathy for his friend, and tried to comfort him, but 
nothing he said seemed to improve matters. Finally he de- 
termined to try another plan, and said : " Doctor, when the 
horse threw you at Colonel Overton's, you promised" — 
"Shut up! shut up! d — you !" said he, "don't you try to 
read moral lessons to me ; the occasion requires heroic treat- 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 245 

ment." But the doctor was as brave as he was cultivated, 
and he went down to gather the fragments, and to make his 
confession to Mrs. Harding. Bleecker followed, and to the 
great delight of both the bowl was not broken. It fell into a 
drift of snow. Bleecker promised he would not tell what 
happened, but he could not keep it from the general, and 
soon all were enjoying the doctor's secret. 

Soon after our army arrived at Nashville, General Forrest, 
with Buford's and Jackson's divisions, moved toward Mur- 
freesboro to destroy the stockades and bridges along the 
Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, and prevent the enemy 
from receiving any assistance from that quarter. General 
Chalmers was, therefore, in command of the cavalry at 
Nashville. About 2 a. m. of December 15th, General Hood 
sent a courier with a note to General Chalmers, stating that 
the enemy would attack our lines that morning. We hurried 
over to Davidson's Landing, on the Charlotte pike, and found 
Rucker in a desperate fight with a greatly superior force. It 
was about the break of day, and the enemy was forming a 
column of cavalry to charge down the pike. This force was 
in addition to the troops fighting Rucker. General Chalmers 
(juickly got a battery of smooth-bore guns in position, and, 
when the column of cavalry crossed the branch and started 
up the hill, grape shot were used with fearful effect. It was 
a terrible scene. Men and horses were killed, and others 
stumbled and fell over them. Our guns continued to fire, 
and the enemy on the right, shocked by the result, began to 
retreat. Rucker saw the o])portunity, and, grasping a flag, 
raised it above his head and ordered a charge. He dashed 
along in front of his line, urging his men to push on. .\t the 



246 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

same time, General Chalmers with his escort charged them 
on the left, and within three minutes the enemy was on the 
run. We followed about a mile, until they reached their 
breast-works. As we drove them back, we were joined by 
Colonel Mark Cockrell, mounted on a good horse. He rode 
in front, and called to our men to come on. The field be- 
longed to Colonel Cockrell, and he was not less than seventy- 
five years of age, and had little, if any, use of his right arm. 
He held the reins in his mouth and his hat in his right hand. 
He was a picture, and his presence and bravery inspired our 
men to superhuman efforts. Unlike Dr. Henderson, he had 
taken no pledge, and he rode and swore in the very faces of 
the foes. During that charge we lost many good men. All 
of the officers of the escort were severely wounded, and two 
were left in the enemy's lines and died in prison. In the 
meantime. General Hood's line had been driven back, and 
we found ourselves some three miles in advance of any other 
troops. We fell back to Davidson's Landing, and the gun- 
boats on the river began to throw their big shells over us. 
They, however, did little damage. We could hear firing far 
to our rear, and the indications seemed that we were cut off. 
About 4 p. M., General Chalmers decided to fall back, and, 
if possible, join the main body of our retreating army. He 
ordered Bleecker ahead, with the escort company, as advance 
guard, with instructions to cross Walnut Ridge, and find the 
wagons which had been left on General Harding's race track. 
General Chalmers followed with Kelly's regiment, and Col- 
onel Rucker with his brigade. Bleecker and the escort 
reached a point opposite "Belle Meade," and, though the 
ridge was very steep, he succeeded in crossing, the men dis- 



/X THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 247 

mounting and leading their horses. General Chalmers, with 
Kelly's regiment, passed about a mile beyond and crossed. 
The weather was intensely cold, and snow and ice covered 
the ground. Bleecker reached the race track and found the 
wagons had been burned. He rode down near the pike, and 
saw Federal soldiers moving about in the yard of Belle 
Meade. Several of them had no guns. Some were on foot, 
others were mounted. He concluded it was a good oppor- 
tunity, and moved the company around and behind .the barn, 
where they formed for a charge. The boys went yelling and 
firing as they passed through the yard. The enemy, some 
two hundred in number, were surprised and ran. They had 
no idea there was a Confederate soldier in the neighborhood. 
Bleecker pushed through the park, but, when near the creek, 
found a line of infantry behind a rock fence, and fell back. 
The enemy opened a hot fire, and, as the boys returned 
through the yard, the bullets were clipping the shrubbery, 
and striking the house. Nine of the enemy were killed or 
wounded, and some fifteen captured. As they rode back, 
Bleecker saw Miss Seline Harding standing on the stone arm 
of the front steps waving her handkerchief. The bullets 
were falling thick and fast about her, but she had no fear in 
her heart. She looked like a goddess. She was the gamest 
little human being in all the croud. Bleecker passed anil 
caught the handkerchief, and urged her to go into the house, 
',)Ut she would not, until the boys had disappeared behind the 
barn. They fell back across the pike, and awaited the com- 
ing of General Chalmers, who soon arrived. It was then 
dark, and Bleecker explained the situation to the general, 



248 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

when he advanced a skirmish line and deceived the enemy as 
to his intentions. 

From prisoners captured we found that General Wilson's 
cavalry had gone south on the Harding pike, and we then 
moved through the fields and woods toward our army, and 
succeeded in getting through, and by chance, found the left of 
General Hood's line, which had formed for a second defense. 
This was about daylight. Chalmers ordered General Rucker 
to guard the left flank, while he moved with his escort and 
Kelly's regiment toward Brentwood to find General Hood. 
As we passed along we came in sight of a column of Fed- 
eral cavalry, which we charged and dispersed, then very soon 
caught up with General Cheatham's ambulances and some 
wagons, which we escorted to the Franklin pike. Arriving 
at Brentwood, we met General Hood, v/ho quickly inquired, 
"What command is that?" Upon being told, he instructed 
General Chalmers to form his men across the pike and halt, 
and put in line every man going to the rear. We succeeded 
in getting about five hundred in line, when the stragglers be- 
gan to crowd through, and finally all left us. General Hood 
was greatly distressed, and said: "They are the people, let 
them go. Now is the time for soldiers." Those men were 
barefooted and disheartened ; the greatly superior numbers 
of the enemy had driven them back, and they were thor- 
oughly demoralized. There was no occasion during the war 
that tried men more than that at Nashville. Ordmary sol- 
diers will go forward and perform gallant deeds when the 
enemy is retreating, but it takes a hero to stand agamst 
overwhelming numbers advancing on him. Any soldier will 
laugh and cheer as he advances, but it takes a man to 



/A' THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 249 

smile on a retreat. While we were at Brentwood, General 
Rucker was attacked by a large force. Some of his men 
were driven back, leaving a gap in his line. He moved 
ahead with the Seventh Alabama to strike the enemy's flank, 
and placed them in position, then he rode a short distance 
to a point where he expected to find the Twelfth Tennessee, 
and found himself surrounded by a regiment of Federal cav- 
alry. He at first thought they were his men, and asked for 
the colonel. As the commanding officer rode to meet him 
Rucker discovered he was a Federal, and drew his saber. 
The Federal officer did the same, and like game-cocks they 
began the battle. Rucker make a desperate rush at his an- 
tagonist, striking with all his power, and somehow dropped 
his saber, but instantly caught the Federal officer's arm and 
wrenched the saber from his hand and struck him a heavy 
blow with it. Very quickly he was surrounded, but with 
that energy, determination, and perhaps recklessness, which 
we had so often seen in Rucker, he tried to escape. He 
plunged the spurs into his horse, and forced his way, but 
he had gone but a short distance when the enemy began to 
shout, " Kill the man on the white horse," and hundreds 
of shots were fired at him. A man tried to cut him off, but 
Colonel Rucker struck him with the saber he had taken 
from the Federal colonel, and dismounted him. Just at that 
moment, however, a ball shattered his left arm above the 
elbow, and another killed his horse. Both fell, and the 
enemy rushed on him like wolves. They had no mercy for 
him, though he was almost unconscious from the fall. They 
pulled and hauled him around, swearing and calling him 
ugly names. He was finally moved to Nashville, where his 



250 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC.. 

arm was amputated. Colonel Rucker was promoted, and 
made a brigadier-general, but he was never able during the 
remainder of the war to assume command. He is now a 
citizen of Birmingham, Ala. 

By the night of December i6th, our army was in hasty 
retreat. The Federal forces under General Thomas num- 
bered about fifty thousand infantry, one hundred and fifty 
pieces of artillery, and twelve thousand cavalry, while Gen- 
eral Hood's force amounted to twenty-two thousand infantry, 
eighty pieces of artillery, and eighteen hundred cavalry. It 
does seem, therefore, that Hood made a noble resistance at 
Nashville, and why Thomas did not cut him off and capture 
the entire force before crossing the Tennessee river, is a 
matter for investigation. The wisdom of this campaign has 
been severely criticised. All night our troops trudged along 
toward Franklin. The ground was frozen, and many of 
the men barefooted, and scarcely any organization could be 
found. Had the situation been reversed, and Forrest in 
command of nuie thousand cavalry, following the defeated 
twenty thousand men, not one of them would have escaped. 
The Federal cavalry in pursuit of Hood's army from Nash- 
ville was very poorly handled. In fact, the conduct of the 
officers, had they been Confederates, would have been re- 
garded as criminal. 

The morning of December 17th our troops were all on the 
south bank of the big Harpeth. General S. D. Lee with 
about four thousand infantry was in line on the hill south 
of Franklin to check the enemy's advance. General Buford 
joined us at Franklin, with Bell's and Lyon's brigades. The 
cavalry was all under the command of General Chalmers. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 251 

Bell's brigade was skirmishing with the enemy across the 
river, and General Lee rode in that direction, and soon 
received a wound in the foot, and was compelled to give uj) 
the command to Major-General C. L. Stevenson. As soon 
as the straggling, foot-sore and starving men were out of 
reach we fell back toward Spring Hill. About six miles 
distant we halted again, and formed on the crest of a hill 
just south of a brick church. It was nearly night, very cold, 
and a mist or fog hung over every thing. The infantry con- 
tinued the march, and Chalmers and Buford were left to 
resist the attack of nearly five times their number. Soon we 
saw the enemy's advance guard halt near the church. Gen- 
eral Stevenson asked if they were our troops. General 
Chalmers answered, "No, they are Yankees," and before 
the brief conversation ended ten or twelve guns opened on 
us, and one among the first shots struck one of Walton's 
pieces full in the mouth, and knocked it off the carriage. 
In an instant the cavalry was on us, some firing their 
carbines, others using their sabers. It was a terrible mixing 
up of men and horses. The writer saw a Yankee slash Gen- 
eral Buford twice over the shoulders with his saber, and he 
was paid for his daring by two bullets from General Chal- 
mers' pistol. We were overpowered and driven back, but 
the infantry halted, and we formed again. The enemy, 
however, did not renew the attack that night. It was a 
dreadful night, the mud about a foot deep was frozen, but 
not sufficiently to bear the weight of our horses and the 
artillery. 

We reached Spring Hill, and found that General Cheatham 
had thrown up temporary breast-works, and he remained 



252 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

there until the wagons and artillery were safely across the 
Duck river. The enemy made two attacks upon us, but 
were easily repulsed. We crossed Duck river, and remained 
at Columbia the night of the 19th, when General Forrest 
reached us. General Hood immediately sent for him, and 
after discussing the situation said he had great fear for the 
safety of the army. General Forrest replied that he would 
undertake to defend the rear of the army if he would give 
him Walthall and about four thousand infantry in addition 
to his cavalry force. General Hood promised to do so, and 
detailed Walthall's division of Stewart's corps for the service, 
but there were less than two thousand men in the division 
for duty, and fully a third of those barefooted. The wagons 
and whatever else was left of Hood's army moved south 
from Columbia early on the morning of the 20th, leaving 
General Forrest with the small infantry force and about three 
thousand cavalry to hold in check the advancing Federals. 
The enemy made no effort to cross the river that morning, 
but late in the afternoon began to shell the city of Columbia 
most furiously. General Forrest rode to the river bank under 
a flag of truce, and asked that the Federal commander come 
to the opposite shore. General Forrest assured him (Gen- 
eral Hatch) that there was not a Confederate soldier in the 
town, but that there were some two thousand prisoners, some 
of them wounded, while others were sick and suffering from 
the severe cold. General Hatch then ordered the shelling 
to cease. General Forrest then proposed to exchange the 
prisoners for the same number of our men, and after two 
hours or so the answer came from General Thomas that he 
refused to exchange the prisoners, or to accept those Forrest 




Major-General Edward Gary Walthall. 



/X THE CONFEDERATE AN Ml'. 253 

had on parole. General Forrest said then to General Hatch 
that many of them were without proper clothing, and they 
would, therefore, most likely die from exposure, but the 
Federal officers would not accept them on parole. Per 
haps when the final Judge shall call all men before the bar 
to answer for their actions, Thomas and Hatch will be met by 
the thousands of poor Federal prisoners who died from cold 
and wounds on that retreat. 

Forrest remained at Columbia until the morning of the 
2 2d, then fell back about three miles and occupied a most 
favorable position between two large hills near Lynnville. 
By this time, all our forces and the wagons were safely on 
the way to the south. There was desperate fighting between 
Lynnville and Pulaski, but the enemy never once broke our 
line. Walthall's men displayed great courage, as did also 
their commander. General Walthall was an inspiration. He 
was courtly and brave, and his tall, handsome form, splendid 
bearing, and fine, intelligent face will never be forgotten by 
the men of that army. His deeds will forever shed luster on 
the Confederate army and upon the American people. He 
was always ready, always prompt, and always wise. He 
never failed to accomplish what he was ordered to do, or in 
what he undertook on his own responsibility. He was the 
highest type of an American soldier and gentleman, and is 
to-day the ideal representative of the South in the United 
States Senate. 

No man in the world ever had greater responsibilities rest- 
ing upon him than did General Forrest on the retreat from 
Columbia, but he met them with great skill and cheerfulness. 
With a force of less than five thousand men, he was called to 



254 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

hold in check an army of fifty thousand. The writer does 
not believe that any other man on earth could have done this. 
Forrest represented in war what Cicero did in literature. He 
had a love for the right and a sincere respect for any demand 
for fairness. He was strong in character, profound in strat- 
egy, and forceful in battle. We will never see his like again. 
We crossed the Tennessee river at Bainbridge on Decem- 
ber the 27th, Chalmers' division being the last to cross, and 
moved quietly toward the prairie country for rest and food. 
There is nothing in the annals of war that will compare with 
the retreat from Nashville, particularly from Columbia to the 
Tennessee river, and the conduct of the men under Forrest 
will stand forever without a parallel. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 255 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

Reorganization of Forrest's Cavalry at Columbus, 
Miss. — The Surrender— General Forrest's Fare- 
well Address — Tribute to General Grant. 

After reaching Corinth, the men who lived in Alabama, 
Tennessee, and Mississippi were furloughed, for the purpose 
of getting fresh horses and better clothing. The Confeder- 
ate Government, recognizing the great services of General 
Forrest, made him a lieutenant-general on February 28, 
1865, and gave him command of all the cavalry in the De- 
partment of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana, and 
he immediately began to reorganize his forces. General 
Chalmers was given a division composed of three brigades 
of Mississippians, commanded by Brigadier-Generals Frank 
C. Armstrong, Wirt Adams, and P. B. Starke, numbering 
four thousand five hundred men. General Buford's division 
was made up of Alabama and Kentucky troops, while the 
division commanded by General W. H. Jackson comprised 
the Tennessee and Texas troops, about six thousand men, 
making a total of ten thousand five hundred men. Chalmers' 
division had camped at Columbus, Miss., for several weeks, 
but about the middle of March he was ordered to move to 
Selma with all possible haste to meet General Wilson, who 
had started in that direction with fifteen thousand troops. 
Adams' brigade was left at Columbus to guard the Mobile 
and Ohio Road. Jackson was ordered to Monte Vallo, Ala., 
while Buford's division was not yet organized. Forrest 



256 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS. ETC., 

therefore went forward with about six thousand men to meet 
perhaps the best equipped cavalry force that had ever been 
organized up to that time. Wilson carried an immense 
wagon train, with a complete pontoon bridge, capable of 
spanning any river except the Mississippi. Besides, he had 
i:)ack mules; also ample forage and other supplies. Wilson 
suddenly changed his direction toward Monte Vallo, and de- 
stroyed all the furnaces on the North and South Alabama 
Railroad. In the meantime, it began to rain, and all creeks 
and rivers were soon impassable to our forces. Wilson, ap- 
preciating the value of his boats, bridged the different 
streams, and threw overwhelming odds against our scattered 
forces and drove them off It was impossible to concentrate 
our troops, because of impassable and swollen streams, the 
bridges having been all washed away. General Forrest 
could not communicate with General Chalmers until the 
morning of April the ist, and by this time the enemy had 
possession of every favorable position. Forrest made an 
effort to reach Selma with sufficient force to defend the place, 
but was unable to do so, and there was fierce fighting for sev- 
eral days. When he realized that it would be impossible to 
head Wilson off, he moved to Marion, and then to Gaines- 
ville, Ala. At the latter place, we heard of the surrender 
of General Lee, and in a few days heard that Mobile had 
fallen also. After a few days of further waiting. General 
Taylor surrendered the department, when all the proud 
hopes, lofty ambitions, long, weary marches, desperate bat- 
lies, and anxiety for loved ones at home, found an end. 

We remained at Gainesville until May the 9th, when the 
commissioner appointed by the United States Government 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMl'. 257 

(General E. S. Dennis) arrived, and began to parole our men. 
While we waited, the men became very restless, and were 
anxious to get home. They had suffered for several years 
without reward, except the consciousness of having made the 
grandest soldiers in all the world's history. 

At the last reorganization, Bleecker was permanently as- 
signed to the escort company, and was in command at the 
surrender. He was devoted to the boys, and the partings 
were with much regret, and deep feelings. While they waited 
for the last act of the war, they amused themselves running 
horse and foot races. They were camped near the Tombig- 
bee river, along the bank of which was a beautiful track of 
some six or eight hundred yards. Bleecker was very fleet- 
footed, and the escort company were willing to back him 
against all comers. He had never been beaten. Finally 
Buford's Kentucky brigade sent a man over to take the 
honors from him. It was a memorable occasion. The 
Kentuckians lined up on one side of the track, and 
Bleecker's friends on the other. One hundred yards were 
measured off, and they toed the line. Men bet their 
horses, saddles, spurs, pistols, and even their pocket knives. 
The word was given, and away they sped. Bleecker 
would rather have died than had the boys disappointed in 
him, and there was no occasion in his life when his pride was 
more at stake. They ran breast and breast for fifty yards or 
so, then Bleecker took the lead and won easily. It was the 
proudest moment of his life. Friends raised him off his feet 
and carried him above their heads. The Kentucky boys 
took their defeat heroically, but they lost every thing. 

Before bidding good-bye to the soldiers, General Forrest 



258 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

issued a farewell address, which we give in full, and which 
illustrates his character : 

Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry Corps, 
Gainesville, Ala., May (), 1865. 

Soldiers — By an agreement made between Lieutenant-Gen- 
eral Taylor, commanding the department of Alabama, Missis- 
sippi, and East Louisiana, and Major-General Canby, com- 
manding the United States forces, the troops of this depart- 
ment have been surrendered. 

I do not think it proper or necessary at this time to refer 
to the causes which have reduced us to this extremity; nor is 
it now a matter of material consequence to us how such re- 
sults were brought about. That we are beaten, is a self-evi- 
dent fact, and any further resistance on our part would be 
justly regarded as the very height of folly and rashness. The 
armies of Generals Lee and Johnson having surrendered, you 
are the last of all the troops of the Confederate States army, 
east of the Mississippi river, to lay down arms. 

The cause for which you have so long and so manfully 
struggled, and for which you have braved dangers, endured 
privations and sufferings, and made so many sacrifices, is to- 
day hopeless. The government which we sought to establish 
and perpetuate is at an end. Reason dictates and humanity 
demands that no more blood be shed. Fully realizing and 
feeling that such is the case, it is your duty and mine to lay 
down our arms, submit to the "powers that be," and to aid 
in restoring peace and establishing law and order throughout 
the land. 

The terms upon which you were surrendered are favor- 
able, and should be satisfactory and acceptable to all. They 
manifest a spirit of magnanimity and liberality on the part of 
the Federal authorities, which should be met on our part by 
a faithful compliance with all the stipulations and conditions 



IX THE CONFEDERATE ARM!'. 259 

therein expressed. As your commander, I sincerely hope 
that every officer and soldier of my command will cheerfully 
obey the orders given, and carry out in good faith all the 
terms of the cartel. 

Those who neglect the terms, and refuse to be paroled, 
may assuredly expect, when arrested, to be sent North and 
imprisoned. 

Let those who are absent from their commands, from what- 
ever cause, report at once to this place, or to Jackson, Miss.; 
or if too remote from either, to the nearest United States post 
or garrison for parole. 

Civil war, such as you have just passed through, naturally 
engenders feelings of animosity, hatred, and revenge. It is 
our duty to divest ourselves of all such feelings; and, as far 
as in our power to do so, to cultivate friendly feelings toward 
those with whom we have so long contended, and heretofore 
so widely, but honestly, differed. Neighborhood feuds, per- 
sonal animosities, and private differences should be blotted 
out; and, when you return home, a manly, straightforward 
course of conduct will secure the respect even of your ene- 
mies. Whatever your responsibilities may be to government, 
to society, or to individuals, meet them like men. The at- 
tempt made to establish a separate and independent Confed- 
eration has failed ; but the consciousness of having done your 
duty faithfully, and to the end, will, in some measure, repay 
for the hardships you have undergone. 

In bidding you farewell, rest assured that you carry with 
you my best wishes for your future welfare and happiness. 
Without in any way referring to the merits of the cause in 
which we have been engaged, your courage and determina- 
tion, as exhibited on many hard fought fields, have elicited 
the respect and admiration of friend and foe, and I now 
cheerfully and gratefully acknowledge my indebtedness to 
the officers and men of my command, whose zeal, fidelity. 



260 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

and unflinching bravery have been the great source of my 
past success in arms. 

I have never, on the field of battle, sent you where I was 
unwilling to go myself; nor would I now advise you to a 
course which I felt myself unwilling to pursue. You have 
been good soldiers, you can be good citizens. Obey the laws, 
preserve your honor, and the government to which you have 
surrendered can afford to be and will be magnanimous, 

N. B. Forrest, Lieiitenani-General. 

The effort had failed, and the Southern cause had gone 
down. It was the Titanic, political and social movement of the 
century. The principles must be consigned to time, but the 
effect upon the destinies of the country will be felt for a 
long period, and will finally redound to the benefit of our 
America. 

The Confederate army had made a name for bravery and 
daring for the rank and file, and'genius for the leaders, that 
will challenge the admiration of future generations, and es- 
tablish a standard for emulation never to be excelled. In all 
the claims for distinction which may arise, there will come up 
the recollections of that proud and distinguished little army 
of half-starved, but heroic, soldiers, which stood for four 
years against the mighty hosts of men, resources, power, and 
money. 

The official records of the United States Government show 
that there were enlisted on the Southern side during the entire 
war less than 600,000 men, while the Federal army numbered 
2,872,304 men. Of the latter, 178,975 were negroes. At 
the close of the war, the Confederates had 167,000 men in 
the field, while the North had 1,000,000 men in active serv- 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 261 

ice. The South, at no time during the war, had quite 
300,000 men in the field, while her rivers and bays were 
packed with gun-boats, and 500 men of war guarded and 
closed her ports. When the future generations read the 
story, they will stand amazed. There were commanders on 
the Federal side whose greatest achievements consisted in 
destroying private property, burning churches and school- 
houses, and devastating the country ; men who took pride 
in burning homes, and who cherished the opportunity to tel- 
egraph the government that "a crow passing over the line 
of my march must take his rations along or starve." 

During Sherman's march through Georgia, his men hung 
old and defenseless people to make them tell where their 
valuables were. They took rings from the fingers of ladies 
and burned every thing which they could not carry away. 
This was desolation, not war. It was the wicked and 
savage hale he bore the Southern people, that spared neither 
age nor sex, nor condition, but like " Mephistopheles " gloated 
over the misery which he brought to helpless women and 
children, that prompted and approved such acts. They 
could not whip the Southern soldier in battle, but could 
destroy their homes and starve their families. 

Nearly the third of a century has passed away. The 
passions which the unhappy conflict inflamed have had time 
to cool. The prejudices engendered have been abated. 
The many asperities incident have been mitigated, and the 
prejudices, wrongs and hates of the day are forgotten or 
forgiven. The South has arisen from her ashes and desola- 
tion. Her valleys are smiling, her granaries are full, her 
cities progressive and prosperous, her homes happy. The 



262 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

same people who saw her trampled in the dust by an invad- 
ing foe, and who fought violently to defend her, have trans- 
formed her into a thing of beauty. Former foes are friends, 
peace has returned, and the South is following her grand 
destiny, but the heart of the Southern soldier is unchanged 
as to the conduct of some of the Northern generals, and it 
will remain unchanged. 

For Butler, who made war on the ladies in New Orleans, 
who disgraced the name of soldier by his conduct and 
brutality, there is a feeling of condemnation. 

But there was one Federal general whose name lends 
luster to the American soldier and to the American citizen, 
who is respected and revered by every fair minded man, 
who understood the prowess of the Southern soldier, and 
who removed from the South the sting of defeat by the 
magic touch of his magnanimity in dealing with the van- 
quished. Around the name of U. S. Grant can cluster the 
hopes of a national feeling of a reunited and indissoluble 
union of all the states. Grant was the genius of the war on 
the Federal side. He realized that he must overpower the 
South, and therefore concentrated his forces for final struggle, 
but he never made war on defenseless women and old men. 
He knew the value of a recruit to the South, and therefore 
dechned the exchange of prisoners. He crushed the Con- 
federacy with superior numbers, but he paroled and trusted 
the Confederate. He knew that if he put the Southern 
soldier on his honor he would make a good citizen, but that 
if the leaders were imprisoned, the Southern people would 
become a nation of "bushwhackers," and he told President 



AV THE CONFEDERATE ARMV. 263 

Johnson that the army of the United States would be used to 
carry out the terms and conditions of General Lee's sur- 
render, if necessary. By that act he bound to him with 
hooks of steel the Southern hearts, which his magnanimity 
won at Appomattox. 



PART III. 

"LACzNIAPPE." 
I. 

King Philip. 

After the war, General Forrest, with his wife and son, 
Captain Billy Forrest, went to live on his farm in Coahoma 
county, Mississippi. It was the middle of May, and too late 
to plant cotton, but they raised an enormous crop of corn. 
At that time, the "Mississippi Delta" was known as the 
"Bottom," and was invariably referred to as such. The 
country was sparsely settled, and in many cases farm-houses 
were five and six miles apart, and the general's place was no 
exception. Less than ten per cent of the country had been 
cleared; therefore the timber and cane made it a wilderness. 
There was no occasion for Federal troops in that country, be- 
cause the population was too small to require watching, and 
there had been none there until about the first of August. 
The affairs at the Forrest home were quiet and undisturbed. 
Both the general and Captain Billy were busily engaged re- 
storing the fences and repairing and rebuilding the houses. 
The general had erected a saw-mill, to which he gave his 
(264) 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARM!'. 265 

personal attention. In fact, he performed the work of what 
was styled "a full hand," besides managing and looking after 
the laborers, his old slaves, to whom he was then paying 
wages. They were devoted to "Mars. Bedford." Captain 
Billy was detailed to drive the ox team, whiclj was used to 
haul logs to the mill. There was a luxuriant Bermuda grass 
lot in front of the house, where the horses grazed during the 
day. General Forrest had given instructions that King 
Philip should never be saddled again. Like the negroes, he 
was set free. The general appreciated his great services 
during the war, and decided to emancipate him. Jerry, the 
general's body servant, and Pat., an Irishman who served 
him as orderly while in the service, were employed about the 
house and lot. Fields of beautiful corn surrounded the 
house, and the rustling of the blades of fodder, together with 
the graceful bending of the tassels as they yielded to the soft 
summer breezes, gave the place an air of quiet and domestic 
life, very different from that which the owner and his family 
and servants and horses had been accustomed to for several 
years past. 

It was a warm August morning, about ten o'clock. King 
Philip and the other horses were grazing in the lot, when a 
company of Federal cavalry rode up to the "big gate" and 
halted. They were searching for government cotton, and 
hearing that the rebel General Forrest lived there, desired to 
take advantage of the opportunity and see him. King Philip 
was the same character of horse that Forrest was man, and 
seemed to have been made for just such service as he had 
seen the past tv/o years. His education had been well 
attended to during that time. He had never come in 



266 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

view of a company of Federals without having to rush 
at them with all his speed and energy. No doubt it 
was with him instinctively a thing which he had no power 
to resist, and, perhaps, no disposition to avoid. The 
Federal captain and his company, ignorant of the char- 
acter of King Philip, and therefore of impending danger, 
and confident of their ability to defend themselves, opened 
the gate and rode in. King Philip had by that time, doubt- 
less, forgotten the horrors of war, as he nipped the fresh 
young grass, and did not discover the presence of the blue- 
coats until they had entered the lot. He heard the tramp of 
the horses and looked up, and the old passion, born of edu- 
cation and hard experience, took possession of him. With 
head and tail in the air, he rushed at the company with his 
old-time energy, nor did he halt until every man and horse 
had been driven from the lot. He kicked and fought like a 
tiger. After the gate had been closed, he galloped along the 
fence-row, neighing and shaking his head defiantly. Jerry, 
hearing the noise and seeing the commotion, ran down to the 
gate and heard dreadful threats against Philip. One of the 
men, who was severely hurt by a kick, swore he would kill 
him ; but Jerry grasped a fence-rail, and announced that he 
would defend Philip with his life ; and that was the situation 
when General Forrest and Captain Billy returned home for 
dinner. 

The officer explained the occurrence to the general, who, 
after King Phlip had been put in the stable, invited the whole 
company in for dinner and rest. Jerry said: " Twus not 
King Philip's fault; dem Yankees opened the gate and rid in 
bedout sayin nuthin to nobody." After all had been seated 



AV THE CONFEDERATE ARMl'. 267 

on the gallery and had laughed over the affair, the Federal 
captain said : " General, I can now account for your success; 
your negroes fight for you and your horses fight for you." 
The general soon after had occasion to go to Memphis on 
business, and told the story to some of his friends. At that 
time, there were a number of sick and wounded men in the 
city who needed means and attention. It was at once sug- 
gested that an entertainment be gotten up for their benefit, 
and that old Philip be exhibited as one of the features. The 
general consented, and returned home and gave instructions 
to Pat and Jerry to put him in nice condition. They began 
giving him extra attention, and feeding him quantities of 
green corn. Early one morning, not long after the general's 
return from Memphis, Jerry knocked at his door, and between 
sobs and lamentations told him that King Philip was dead. 
The general hurriedly dressed and went to the stable, and 
found Pat kneeling down and caressing his neck and shedding 
bitter tears. The general himself wiped away a tear, and 
expressed great sorrow. Pat, believing that the general 
would take his death very seriously, thought to relieve him 
of his sorrow, and said: " Gineral, he is dead. King Philip 
is dead ! But, sir, I want you to look at the good fat I put 
on him before he died."' King Philip died with the colic, 
and, of course, was badly swollen, but Pat wanted the gen- 
eral to think it was fat. 

II. 

Not long after the war, General Forrest and his son. Cap- 
tain Billy, went to New York. It was the first time either 



268 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

of them ever saw the great city. At that time, the "St. 
Nicholas " was the popular hotel for Southern people, and it 
was at that hostelry they stopped. They arrived about night, 
and after an early breakfast the following morning, concluded 
to go out and see the city. The rotunda of the St. Nicholas 
was on a level with the street. They walked to the front and 
stopped to get their bearings. There was a great crowd of 
people in front of the hotel, which rapidly grew larger after 
they halted. The general wore a grey suit and a broad 
brimmed light colored felt hat. He was at all times a con- 
spicuous figure, but his friends at home were accustomed to 
him, therefore did not appreciate his distinguished appear- 
ance as strangers did. The papers announced that he was in 
the city, and there was wide-spread curiosity to see him. He 
was ignorant of the cause that drew the crowd together, and, 
having heard that Broadway was a great thoroughfare, sup- 
posed it was a natural condition. Finally, he heard a person 
say, "That's him. That's the rebel. General Forrest," and 
he made his way out, and, with Captain Billy, walked up the 
street. The crowd followed, and was augmented at every 
corner. Those in front were p'ressed by those following, 
until finally hundreds of them were blocking up the street 
and sidewalk looking at the big rebel. The general grew 
restless and worried over the situation, but, as was invariably 
the case, he was equal to the occasion. He lifted his big 
white hat high above his head, and cried out with a voice 
that had never failed to produce consternation : " Get out of 
my way, G — d d — you." The effect was instantaneous. 
Those in the rear were knocked down and run over by those 
in front, and the stampede lasted for several minu*^es during 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 269 

which time the general and Captain Billy went into a cross 
street and escaped further intrusion. 

The afternoon papers mentioned the circumstances, and 
the morning papers were full of it. Forrest was discussed by 
every tongue. The following morning he sat on the side of 
his bed, had just pulled on his boots, and was coursing his 
fingers through his hair, a very common habit with him. 
(The writer has often seen him when his long, iron-gray hair 
stood up, "like quills upon the fretful porcupine.") He 
had not yet removed his night-shirt, when some one knocked 
at his door. Captain Billy occupied an adjoining room with 
a door opening into the general's, and went to the outer door 
to answer the knock. He was astonished to find a lady 
there. She was a typical New England old maid ; tall, angu- 
lar, and thin; her hair was dark and pasted tightly over her 
high forehead; thin lips, compressed mouth, and a well dis 
tinguished jaw. She carried a Bible in one hand, and an 
umbrella in the other. She pushed Captain Billy aside, and 
advancing, addressing the General, asked: "Are you the 
Rebel General Forrest ? And is it true that you murdered 
those dear colored people at Fort Pillow? Tell me, sir; I 
want no evasive answer !" 

The writer does not think that slang is good taste, or good 
sense, but he feels that, in this instance, a slang phrase con- 
veys the ideal plainly: "She got it in the neck." 

The general rose up from his bed to his full height, his 
hair standing on end, and said: " Yes, madam; I killed the 
men and women, and ate the babies for breakfast." 

The old maid ran screaming down the hall-way and into 
the street. 



270 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 



III. 

After the war had ended, the South was overrun by a class 
called " Carpet Baggers." They were as a general and almost 
universal thing the scum of the earth. Men who, except in 
a few instances, had no idea of right, honesty, gentility, or de- 
cency, and knew no such law or motto. They came South to 
fire the heart of the newly-emancipated negro, and organize a 
political party, by which they could obtain official control of 
the different states. They were not representatives of any 
class in the North, nor anywhere else on God's green earth, 
but were to the North what the bench-leg fice (of which no 
female was ever known) is to the canine tribe. They organized 
secret societies, and administered the most terrible oaths to 
the negroes. They promised to give each voter forty acres 
of land and a mule, if he would vote properly. The forty 
acres and the mule did not materialize, however, and the ne- 
groes began to complain. In the meantime every scoundrel 
of them had ridden into office on the negro votes. Finally 
it was necessary to made ncAv promises, or else the negroes 
would withdraw their support. State officers and a legis- 
lature had to be elected, so the Carpet Baggers gave it out 
that the Republicans had affairs working nicely, and if re- 
elected they would pass a bill with provisions in it for the 
colored man. The poor, ignorant things spent a month 
drilling, and moving from one place to another, sitting up at 
nights, and taking new oaths "to 'spise the white folks." 

After the election, hundreds of them wasted their lime 
hanging around the town, with sacks and cotton baskets. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMT. 271 

waiting for the " provisions," and after they were entirely 
without food, went among the white people and asked for 
bread. No Carpet Bagger ever felt sympathy enough for a 
negro to help him. Those rascals passed a law that all ne- 
groes who were living together as man and wife, must obtain 
license and be married. It will be understood that all the 
clerks of the courts were Carpet Baggers, and they in this 
way got thousands of dollars from the deluded and unfortu- 
nate negroes. Those who had been living together years 
and years, and who had grand-children, were required to pay 
two dollars for license, and then pay a magistrate one dollar 
to perform the ceremony. 

They robbed and imposed upon the negroes, but the poor 
things, like an ox, would suffer in silence. *"T would not do 
to tell de white folks." 

There were several species of Carpet Baggers, as is the 
case with the monkey family — gray monkeys, red monkeys, 
big monkeys, little monkeys, ring-tail monkeys, etc. Differ- 
ent grades of Carpet Baggers performed different duties. 
There was an " Old He One " in every county, whom the 
little ring-tails reported to, and received orders from. The 
little ring-tails went over the county selling pegs, some 
were painted red, and others white. They were sold in sets 
of four. The red ones were sold at ten dollars, and the 
white ones at five dollars per set. The purchaser was told 
that he could use the pegs for staking off ground. The red 
pegs were sold to stake off eighty acres, and the white pegs 
good for forty acres of land. A prominent farmer in Madi- 
son county, Miss., Colonel Jefferson Love, in riding over his 
place, noticed the pegs, and inquired who put them there. 



272 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC. 

One of his old slaves said : " I did, sir. Dey is de pegs whur 
Gineral Grant sarnt me ; dey marks my ground whur de 
guvernment dun gin me." The gentleman tried to explain 
to the old man that he had been duped, but it did no good. 
Finally, like the man in the fable, when he found that kind 
words and grass had no effect upon the boy, he tried rocks. 
The rocks brought him down. The old nigger returned the 
pegs to the ring-tail and demanded his money, but he died 
without getting it. The ring-tail told him that if he would 
wait until fall, the pegs would be good. 

When the negroes would begin to grow callous, after re- 
peated deceptions, the Carpet Bagger would tell them Gen- 
eral Grant sent word, "They must do so and so," and 
immediately every one was in line. If one of the ring-tails 
needed money, all that was necessary to raise it was the or- 
der of General Grant. 

These are facts which people living in the North will not 
readily believe, but they are true; and when believed and 
recognized to have been the true condition of affairs in the 
South during what was known as the reconstruction period, 
the Northern people then must admit that the white people of 
the South were more tolerant and the negroes more gullible 
and more grossly deceived and imposed upon by their pre- 
tended friends, the said Carpet Baggers, than ever any people 
were on earth. 

IV. 

A negro boy employed as butler by a prominent family on 
Vance street, Memphis, requested- the young lady of the 



/X THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 273 

liouse to write for him a letter to his sweet-heart. She sat 
down to her escritoire to comply, and asked: " How shall 
I begin it, John?" "Oh, jes like de young gemmins start 
dar letters to you, Miss R.," he answered. Miss R. assured 
John that there was no stereotyped style in opening corre- 
spondence with her. She wrote the letter, however, which 
she read to John, and asked if it was satisfactory. 

"Yes'um, I suppose it mout do, but 'scuse me, Miss R., 
if I defer a subgestion. I ud like to put a little bit mo' in 

dar like dis : 

" ' De rose am red, 

And de vylets blue, 

De pinks am preatj, 

An', an', so is you.' " 

After having acted upon John's "subgestion," she asked 
if that was all. 

John scratched his woolly head a moment, and then said : 
" Miss R. , dar am one more thing what oughten to go in dar. 
Dis— 

" I hopes dat you will 'scuse de pore mizzerable writin' and 
de bad spellin'." 

The letter finally satisfied John, and Miss R. asked how it 
should be addressed. Said he : 

"To Miss Mary Malone, care Nashville Pintincy." 

" Why, John, she is not in the penitentiary, is she ?" 

" Yes'um, oh, yes'um," said he. 

" Well," said Miss R., " how on earth came she there?" 

" Oh, nuthin' much ; she gist steal some, and kit kotched, 
dat wuz all." 



274 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

V. 

During the war, wherever the Federals got a foothold, 
they arrested and imprisoned the most prominent people. 
No reason or excuse was given for the action, and it was well 
known to be a part of a system to humiliate and punish men 
who were too old to go in the service. Prominent among a 
number of distinguished gentlemen who were placed in the 
penitentiary at Nashville was the Hon. Chas. Ready, of Mur- 
freesboro, Tenn. Judge Ready was a lawyer of conspicuous 
ability and a citizen of the highest character. He was the 
friend of the poor and defenseless and a devoted husband 
and ■ father. No man stood higher in the esteem of his 
neighbors than he. While, in the penitentiary, he met a ne- 
gro, who had been confined a number of years, and was do- 
ing duty as a " trusty." The negro was named Dan., and was 
very polite and attentive to the judge. He polished his 
shoes and looked after his comfort generally. The judge 
was finally released and returned to his home at Murfrees- 
boro. After the war, Dan., having served out his time, 
made straight for Murfreesboro. He had a very good un- 
derstanding of human nature, and of a Southern gentleman 
in particular. He reached the judge's home during his ab- 
sence, and was told by the servants to go off, but he re- 
mained in the vicinity until the judge returned. The judge 
was glad to see Dan., and gave instructions to the servants to 
treat him kindly. Mrs. Ready gave him a suit of good 
clothes, hat, and shoes, and Dan. realized that he was in 
clover. The crumbs which he had cast on the waters had 
returned to him a thousand-fold. The servants turned up 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 275 

their noses at Dan., but it made no difference to him. He 
knew that he would be provided for. He was very fond of 
talking to the judge and Mrs. Ready, and often sat on the 
steps while they enjoyed their big rockers on the broad gal- 
lery, in the summer afternoons. Dan. dated all his good 
fortune from the time he and the judge met in the peniten- 
tiary, and this was his theme on the afternoons referred to. 
He would laugh and tell Mrs. Ready "how me and judge 
used to do when we wus in the pinitinchery together." Mrs. 
Ready was a lady of cultivation and an unusually keen per- 
ception of things, and would laugh and encourage Dan. to 
go on, but the judge was not so reminiscently inclined. 
During Dan.'s visit, on one occasion, the judge had been 
employed in a criminal case, which demanded the best atten- 
tion. He gave the most earnest consideration to it, and se- 
cured a verdict of acquittal for his client. He was a liberal, 
impulsive, kind, and generous man. He was conscious of 
having given his best energy to the case, and wanted to cap off 
the occasion by inviting a number of his friends and brother 
lawyers to dine with him. Mrs. Ready was always pleased to 
entertain his friends, and on this occasion made extra prepa- 
ration. After dinner, the gentlemen repaired to the gallery to 
enjoy a fine brand of cigars which were handed them. Soon 
Dan. made his appearance on the steps and began to tell 
"what me and the judge used to do when we wus in the 
pinitinchery together.'' There was a gentleman in the party 
that had but recently moved to Murfreesboro from the North, 
and had never heard of the imprisonment of gentlemen for 
political reasons. He heard Dan.'s tale, and noticed that no 
contradiction of his statement was made. Finallv, he asked 



276 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

what it meant. "Why," said one of the gentlemen, "are 
you not aware that the judge served a term in the peniten- 
tiary, and that the negro was in at the same time ?" 

The newcomer had never heard of it, and, indeed, few 
Northern men of the present day know how prominent 
Southerners were made to suffer during the war. 



VI. 

THE NEGROES. 

Having written with the sole purpose of leaving to my pos- 
terity and to such others as may feel sufficient interest in a 
simple, but true, narrative of the stirring events of 1861 to 
1865 ^° ^^^<i ^t' ^^d having been prevailed on to publish 
the story in a durable form, I feel that I should leave my 
self-imposed task (which is more a labor of love than a task) 
incomplete, did I fail or neglect to bear testimony to the 
fidelity of the negroes to their masters' families during those 
dark and dreadful days. Slavery existed in the Southern 
States alone, and prior to the war there had been more than 
one insurrectionary movement among the slaves, and one 
(that of Southampton, Virginia, led by Nat Turner) had cost 
much innocent blood and created a world-wide sensation. 
All these insurrections and attempted insurrections were be- 
lieved to have been incited by two agencies, first, evil dis- 
posed, envious, or intermeddling incendiaries from the free 
states, and second, a burning desire upon the part of some 
of the more intelligent negroes to throw off the yoke of slav- 
ery and be free. It is needless to recall the horrors of those 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. Til 

outbreaks, but they occurred, and never without involving 
the shedding of human blood and the sacrifice of life. 

There may have been instances in which malice, wrought 
up by harsh and cruel treatment of slaves by heartless and 
brutish owners, were among the incitements, but, as a rule, 
slave owners and especially those who were kind, consid- 
erate, and just to their slaves, were highly respected and 
sincerely beloved by the latter, and no stronger proof of this 
fact could be desired than was afforded by the conduct of 
the slaves generally during the late war. For months and 
even years, the families of the South were almost wholly at 
the mercy of the blacks. There was many a night on which 
ladies and children were the only whites on a Southern 
plantation, or at a Southern home. There were weeks 
and months of such nights, and yet from the begin- 
ning to the end of the war, no such thing as an in- 
surrectionary movement was known or heard of, nor 
the use of any incendiary or insulting language whatever 
charged, reported, or hinted against the negroes. True, a 
number of them left their owners and their homes, or were 
carried or enticed away, and many of the men who went en- 
listed in the Federal army. But, on the other hand, a ma- 
jority of them remained at home, and actually hid themselves 
and the stock of their owners whenever they heard the start- 
ling cry, "Yankees coming." This is positively true. I 
could cite instances and name parties and places were it 
necessary. Not only did a large majority of the negroes re- 
main at their homes, but they took care of the property and 
families of their owners, raised crops, and did all other cus- 
tomary and necessary work, just as they had done before the 



278 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 

war, when owners and overseers watched over them. These 
are facts that flatly contradict and give the lie direct to the 
numerous oft-repeated assertions of abolitionists (slanders on 
the negroes), that they hated the whites of the South, and 
only worked for and obeyed them because they were com- 
pelled to do so. Not only did a very large majority of the 
negroes remain at home during the war, but after they were 
made free as a result of the war, and by national and state 
action, many still remained with their former owners and 
worked for them for regular wages or "on shares," and not 
a few are still doing so. 

These are facts, and no matter what may be the outcome 
of the developments of the future, as a race, the negroes, by 
their conduct and their fidelity in times and under circum- 
stances that might well have been supposed, would and did 
put their allegiance and fidelity to the severest test, earned 
and entitled themselves to the kind consideration, the friend- 
ship, and love of the whites. True, after the war had ended 
and they became free, their ignorance was imposed upon, and 
many of them allowed themselves to be duped and misled 
into a feeling of distrust and a course of antagonism to their 
former owners, and the whites of the South generally which 
came very near causing a rupture that must or might have 
resulted in the destruction of all confidences, the severance 
of all ties, and creating a permanent animosity among the 
races. I do not envy the men — the fiends — who could take 
advantage of the ignorant blacks to turn them against the 
whites, expose them to the possible dangers and evils of a 
bloody race conflict. Such men are too mean to live, and 
they are unfit to die. 



IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. 279 

Fortunately, the negroes discovered the cloven foot of the_ 
marplot in time to avert it — and when they withdrew their 
allegiance, the Carpet Bagger " left the country for the 
country's good," and perhaps their own safety — (I do not 
quote literally, because it was not their country). They came 
for spoils, did all the meanness they could, duped and cheated 
those poor people who had trusted them, and when the 
" spoils" ceased to flow into their carpet bags, they returned 
whence they came, bitter in their feelings, because of the 
diappointment, then posed in the North as martyrs, and 
scattered falsehoods against the Southern people. I never 
knew of but one instance where one carried back a negro 
wife. A person who served as sheriff of Yazoo county, 
Mississippi, took unto himself a negro woman for a wife, and 
was married by a negro preacher. He was afterward state 
senator. The writer knew them both, and will not hesitate 
to say the woman was superior to the man. 

We do not denominate all Northern men who came South 
soon after the war and since that time as Carpet Baggers. 
Those we speak of were an entirely different set, and were a 
worse and more bitter curse to the Southern States, and to the 
people of the South, both white and black, than was the four 
years of war, of which they were the degraded and un- 
principled stragglers and scum. Those persons were always 
in the rear, and by them most of the thieving and other 
meanness was done. Nor do I hesitate to say that the better 
and more intelligent class of negroes were by far the su- 
periors of this despicable and unprincipled element. 

After the Carpet Baggers had hied them away, the negroes 
and the whites got along without trouble, and they are getting 



280 



PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, ETC., 



along harmoniously to this day ; and, except a few of the 
most restless and improvident, who would never be content 
to remain permanently any where, they are doing well, and 
conducting themselves well. And when I recall to mind how 
they conducted themselves during the war, and how faithful 
they were, my earnest hope and prayer is that they may con- 
tinue to improve and that no discord may ever disturb the 
relations which now exist between the races in the South. 




Col. L. T. Dickinson. 




The Old Johnnie. 




We stand ready to defend it. 



